San Francisco 49ers

Bills offensive coordinator Anthony Lynn doesn't like the Rooney Rule

Published Dec. 15, 2016 5:24 p.m. ET

Nunzio Ingrassia

Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Anthony Lynn is not a proponent of the Rooney Rule, which requires teams to interview at least one minority candidate, and would rather have teams put a premium on hiring “the best man for the job.”

"I think it's good to get in front of the decision-makers and let them hear what you have to say," he said Thursday, via ESPN. "But at the same time, I think some people take advantage of it. I'm not for it. Hire the best man for the job. That's all I want."

Lynn, who was interviewed by the Dolphins and 49ers for their head-coaching vacancies last offseason, turned down other opportunities to interview for head-coaching openings because he believed they were set up strictly to fulfill the Rooney Rule.

"I think sometimes people do that to check the box," said Lynn, who was promoted to offensive coordinator in September after Greg Roman was fired. "I don't agree with it."

The Rooney Rule, which is named after Steelers owner Dan Rooney, was put into effect in 2003 in the hopes of giving minority coaches a better chance of landing a head-coaching job.