National Football League (NFL) teams will be required to interview at least one woman for executive roles after its Rooney Rule was expanded by commissioner Roger Goodell.

Speaking at the first NFL women’s Summit ahead of Super Bowl 50, Goodell said: “We believe in diversity. We believe we’re better as an organisation when we have good people at the table.

“Our commitment is we have something called the Rooney Rule, which requires us to make sure when we have an opening, that on the team or the league level, that we are going to interview a diverse slate of candidates. We’re going to do that with women as well in all of our executive positions.”

The Rooney Rule was originally introduced in 2003 to make sure at least one minority ethnic candidate is interviewed for coaching or executive roles at NFL franchises. The rule is named after Pittsburgh Steeler’s chair Dan Rooney, who spearheaded the requirement as chair of the league’s Diversity Committee.

Goodell said the NFL had made a lot of progress with female representation, highlighting the appointment of its first female on-field official Sarah Thomas, and female coaches Jen Welter and Kathryn Smith.

“We’re also seeing it on the field,” said Goodell. “You can see that progress is being made.”