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If the Rams have a couple of top HC candidates on teams participating in the 2017 NFL playoffs, this may give some insight for those of you that didn't already know the general/basic rules.
Non-playoff teams
Coaches on a non-playoff team can interview at one point once the regular season ends. An assistant coach under contract must be granted permission to interview with another team if the interview is for a head coach position. A team can deny interviews for an assistant coach under contract interviewing for a non-head coach position.
Playoff teams
Coaches on teams playing wild card weekend cannot interview during the week of the wild card game. If a team loses, the "non-playoff teams" rules listed above apply. If a team wins, their coaches must be allowed to interview the week leading up to the divisional round games. The interview must take place in the city of the assistant's team, and the team can decide which day they will allow their assistant coaches to interview for head coach positions. The first interview must take place during that divisional round week.
Playoff teams with a Bye
Coaches on the top two seeds in either conference can interview with another team during the week of their bye. That would apply to coaches like Patriots OC Josh McDaniels, or Falcons OC Kyle Shanahan if their teams were to have a bye. The interview must take place in the city of the assistant's current team, and that first interview must take place during the wild card round bye week.
Follow-up interviews
If a team wants to conduct a second interview with a candidate whose team keeps winning and earns a spot in the Super Bowl, the team must wait until the bye week of the Super Bowl. They can conduct a second interview with the candidate (team permission needed) in the week after the conference championship game.
The Rooney Rule
In place since 2003 for head coaches and expanded in 2009 to include general manager jobs and equivalent front-office positions, the rule — named after Dan Rooney, Pittsburgh Steelers chairman and onetime head of the league’s diversity committee — mandates that an NFL team must interview at least one minority candidate for these jobs.
Non-playoff teams
Coaches on a non-playoff team can interview at one point once the regular season ends. An assistant coach under contract must be granted permission to interview with another team if the interview is for a head coach position. A team can deny interviews for an assistant coach under contract interviewing for a non-head coach position.
Playoff teams
Coaches on teams playing wild card weekend cannot interview during the week of the wild card game. If a team loses, the "non-playoff teams" rules listed above apply. If a team wins, their coaches must be allowed to interview the week leading up to the divisional round games. The interview must take place in the city of the assistant's team, and the team can decide which day they will allow their assistant coaches to interview for head coach positions. The first interview must take place during that divisional round week.
Playoff teams with a Bye
Coaches on the top two seeds in either conference can interview with another team during the week of their bye. That would apply to coaches like Patriots OC Josh McDaniels, or Falcons OC Kyle Shanahan if their teams were to have a bye. The interview must take place in the city of the assistant's current team, and that first interview must take place during the wild card round bye week.
Follow-up interviews
If a team wants to conduct a second interview with a candidate whose team keeps winning and earns a spot in the Super Bowl, the team must wait until the bye week of the Super Bowl. They can conduct a second interview with the candidate (team permission needed) in the week after the conference championship game.
The Rooney Rule
In place since 2003 for head coaches and expanded in 2009 to include general manager jobs and equivalent front-office positions, the rule — named after Dan Rooney, Pittsburgh Steelers chairman and onetime head of the league’s diversity committee — mandates that an NFL team must interview at least one minority candidate for these jobs.
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