According to NFL spokesman Greg Aiello, teams that have appointed interim coaches cannot hire a permanent coach until after the season per Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. “Once the season is concluded, the head coaching position must be considered open and the club must fill the position in accordance with the interviewing guidelines,†Aiello said. Those guidelines require that teams interview at least one minority candidate to satisfy the league’s Rooney Rule. Source: The Redzone
But the rules don't require the teams to actually consider the minority candidate, just interview them.
