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Fritz Pollard Alliance releases statement criticizing Urban Meyer for hiring ex-Iowa staffer Chris Doyle

Spenser Davis

By Spenser Davis

Published:

The Jacksonville Jaguars hired former Iowa strength coach Chris Doyle to a similar role this week, a move that has drawn criticism from around the sport.

Doyle and the Hawkeyes parted ways last offseason after numerous former players raised concerns of “racial disparities” within the program.

On Friday, the Fritz Pollard Alliance — an organization comprised of NFL scouts, coaches and executives focused on diversity in the NFL — released a statement condemning the hire.

The statement specifically criticizes Meyer’s defense of the decision, which included the claim that the two men have known each other for 20 years. It also calls the hire a “failure of leadership by the Jacksonville Jaguars.”

“At a time when the NFL has failed to solved its problem with racial hiring practices, it is simply unacceptable to welcome Chris Doyle into the ranks of NFL coaches,” the statement said. “Doyle’s departure from the University of Iowa reflected a tenure riddled with poor judgement and mistreatment of Black players. His conduct should be as disqualifying for the NFL as it was for the University of Iowa.

“Urban Meyer’s statement, ‘I’ve known Chris for close to 20 years,’ reflects the good ol’ boy network that is precisely the reason there is such a disparity in employment opportunities for Black coaches.”

Here’s the full statement from executive director Rod Graves:

 

Spenser Davis

Spenser is the news manager at Saturday Road and covers college football across all Saturday Football brands.