The NFL Accelerator program is returning after a hiatus, now featuring white men for the first time

The case for the NFL’s Accelerator Program, which begins Monday to introduce aspiring coaches and front office personnel to club owners in hopes of increasing their chances of future hires, should be different.

Supposedly two former players – Josh McCown and Mike Kafka – are in the program hoping to become head coaches.

Apparently Catherine Hickman, a Canadian woman, is on the program as she looks for the NFL general manager job.

It should be that former or interim head coaches – Mike McDaniel, Kafka, Darren Rizzi, David Shaw and Jeff Ulbrich – are trying to become NFL head coaches again.

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The story may be related to the family still playing in the league because Mike Bradway’s father is the son of longtime NFL executive Terry Bradway, Adam Berry is the twin brother of Browns general manager Andrew Berry, and John McKay’s father is longtime NFL executive Rich McKay, former Buccaneers and son of USC coach John McKay.

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All of this is notable for the Accelerator Program, except that the neon-lit story about the program is now about race. Black or White.

The NFL addressed the race in 2022 when it established the Accelerator Program to “build a strong pipeline of talent for the league’s top coaching and front office positions by providing leadership development and opportunities to connect directly with club owners.”

This program places potential coaches, general managers and team presidents in meeting places with owners to provide them with the opportunity to be hired. Except the NFL has limited those meeting opportunities to black people. And women. And other small ones.

But not white men.

That became a problem for the league last year and the program was “paused,” according to the NFL. This year, the program is back.

Rich McKay, Atlanta Falcons CEO and chairman of the Competition Committee, listens as Jeff Miller, senior vice president of communications for the NFL, speaks to reporters about the rule change at the NFL owners meetings in Orlando, Fla., on March 25, 2024. (Phelan M. Ebenhack/AP)

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But now it includes White males as well, anyone sent to the program by individual clubs regardless of race.

This year, there are 34 NFL coaches and front office people in the Accelerator program and they will meet with owners in Orlando over the next few days.

And 18 participants are White, 14 are Black, and two are biracial.

The NFL initially believed that the Accelerator Program, which was part of its diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, would level the playing field for fewer job seekers. Not much happened, as only one coach (Aaron Glenn) and two general managers (Ran Carthon and Ian Cunningham) were hired after participating.

The problem with the NFL’s initial approach to equality and inclusion was that it was unequal and non-white.

That changed this year. So, maybe the stories coming out of the show in the future won’t be about race.

Participants:

Jeff Ulbrich (Atlanta Falcons coach): White.

Terrance Gray (Buffalo Bills front office): Black.

Dan Pitcher (Cincinnati Bengals coach): White.

Catherine Hickman (Cleveland Brown front office): White woman.

Glenn Cook (Cleveland Brown front office): Black.

Klayton Adams (Dallas Cowboys coach): White.

Cam Williams (Denver Broncos front office): Black.

Darren Rizzi (Denver Broncos coach): White.

David Shaw (Detroit Lions coach): Black.

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Kansas City Chiefs’ Travis Kelce greets former Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, now Chicago Bears coach, and Chiefs coach Andy Reid before an NFL preseason game at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., on Aug. 22, 2025. (David Eulitt/Getty Images)

Mike Kafka (Detroit Lions coach): White.

Milt Hendrickson (Green Bay Packers front office): White.

Chris Blanco (Houston Texans front office): Black.

Nick Caley (Houston Texans coach): White.

James Liipfert (Houston Texans front office): White.

Chris Hewitt (Indianapolis Colts coach): Black.

Grant Udinski (Jacksonville Jaguars coach): White.

Eric Bieniemy (Kansas City Chiefs coach): Black.

Mike Bradway (Kansas City Chiefs front office): White.

Chad Alexander (former Los Angeles Chargers front office): Black.

Mike McDaniel (Los Angeles Chargers coach): Biracial.

Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel talks to quarterback Tua Tagovailoa during the fourth quarter against the Buffalo Bills at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla., on Sept. 25, 2022. (Megan Briggs/Getty Images)

John McKay (former Los Angeles Rams front office): White.

Nate Sheelhaase (Los Angeles Rams coach): Black.

Josh McCown (Minnesota Vikings coach): White.

Terrell Williams (New England Patriots coach): Black.

Brandon Brown (New York Giants front office): Black.

Adam Berry (Philadelphia Eagles front office): Black.

RJ Gillen (former San Francisco 49ers front office): White.

Josh Williams (former San Francisco 49ers front office): Black.

Aden Durde (Seattle Seahawks coach): Biracial.

Nolan Teasley (Seattle Seahawks front office): White.

Mike Greenberg (Tampa Bay Buccaneers front office): White.

New York Jets head coach Aaron Glenn instructs the staff during the first half against the Miami Dolphins in Miami Gardens, Fla., on Sept. 29, 2025. (Marta Lavandier/AP)

Dan Sagany (former Tennessee Titans front office): White.

Daronte Jones (Washington Commanders coach): Black.

Lance Newmark (Washington Commanders front office): White.

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