A Korean former NFL coach and player claims he was turned down for a job in the league after he was told that he was “not the right minority” during an interview with a team this offseason.
Eugene Chung, who previously worked as an assistant coach for the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs, said an interviewer for an NFL job that he was told he was "really not a minority," before saying he wasn't "the right minority we're looking for."
The NFL said it is now looking into the matter.
"It was absolutely mind-blowing to me that in 2021, something like that is actually a narrative," Chung, who is Korean, told the paper, according to CNN.
Chung did not name the team he was interviewing for.
"That comment is completely inappropriate and contrary to league values and workplace policies. The NFL and its clubs are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all personnel in a manner that is consistent with our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion," the league said in a statement.
The Fritz Pollard Alliance which seeks to further diversity in the NFL has called on the league to investigate.
"If the comments regarding his status as a Korean American are true, it is further evidence that despite good faith changes to diversity-related policies, the NFL's actual hiring practices are still riddled with discrimination," the group said in a statement.
