There is an old boys network and there's a network where you're going to really protect and promote your own. Frazier was the Vikings' coach from 2010-2013, leading Minnesota to its biggest single-season turnaround in franchise history (3-13 in 2011 to 10-6 in 2012). Podcasts: True crime, in-depth interviews and more USA TODAY podcasts right here. He says that there's been some improvement with diversity in the coaching ranks. As the league becomes more driven by quarterbacks, coaching quarterbacks is becoming a fast track to becoming a head coach. He was replaced by Zac Taylor who is currently 16-32 in three seasons. Our recent USA Today sports analysis found that in the last 20 years, about four white coaches were hired for every coach of color. After leading the Buffalo Bills for one season in 2016. He led the Oakland Raiders during the 2011 season and was the head coach for the Cleveland Browns from 2016 to 2018. To date, he has a 162-93 record, is the youngest coach in league history to win a Super Bowl, has Pittsburgh in the playoffs for the tenth time in his tenure, and is the only coach in league history to begin his career with 15 straight non-losing seasons. Wilks is the current interim head coach of the Panthers, but he got his first shot at the top job with the Cardinals, going 3-13 in 2018. 12. 20 Black NFL Coaches 20. Because I've learned that the best indicators of future success are self-motivation and self-discipline. Schad says this goes back a while. The league and the teams deny his claims, but Dragon isn't convinced. Just 24 of them have been Black. Thanks to Tyler Dragon, Tom Schad, Doug Whaley, and Andrew Brandt for joining me. Romeo Crennel was a head coach for four seasons with the Cleveland Browns from 2005 to 2008 and later for one season with the Houston Texans, according to the Pro Football History website. In the text message, Belichick confirmed Daboll had already secured the job, but Flores had not yet interviewed for the position. Copyright 2023 Sporting News Holdings Limited. The rule was expanded in 2009 to include general managers as well as other front-office positions. So all minorities, look for a mentor, but pay it forward by being a mentor. He also wants to get a sense of their mentality. 'Dilbert' Comic Creator Calls Black People A 'Hate Group,' Urges Segregation So Whites Can 'Escape', Bernie Mac Show Star Camille Winbush Is Not Ashamed Of Joining OnlyFans, Kyle Rittenhouse Faces 2nd Civil Lawsuit, Continues To Beg For Money From His Supporters, Ben Stein's 'Aunt Jemima' Rant Is A Master Class On White Privilege, Why Did tWitch Kill Himself? Notably, Jackson responded to Flores lawsuit by claiming he was subjected to similar treatment described in the complaint. Hopefully, DeMecos hiring is the catalyst for more Black coaches in the NFL. Jackson claims the Browns incentivized losing while he was head coach in order to increase the teams odds in the NFL Draft. He had an aggregate record of 36-28, a winning percentage of .563 the best winning percentage of any Lions Head Coach since the 1950s, Flores lawsuit said in part. Interestingly enough, Caldwell was mentioned in Brian Flores lawsuit as an example of a Black NFL head coach who was fired in spite of the success he enjoyed. Todd Bowles was a head coach in the NFL for five seasons, beginning with the Miami Dolphins in the 2011 season and four other seasons leading the New York Jets from 2015 to 2018. To be sure, the NFL has had more than 500 head coaches over the course of more than a century of competition. He was also named assistant head coach of the Jaguars for the 2012 season, according to the Pro Football History website. Wilkes was not retained and Smith was fired. During his entire head coaching career, his two teams combined for a record of 37-42-1 across five seasons including going 1-2-0 in the playoffs, according to the Pro Football History website. Copyright 2023 Interactive One, LLC. The Houston Texans, replaced Smith with another black coach, DeMeco Ryans. Bowles went 10-6 in his first season and was 24-40 in his four years on the sidelines for the Jets. He has a 90-90-1 overall record through Week 6 of the 2022 season. His teams won division titles four times and advanced to NFC Championship Games after the 1998 and 2000 seasons, the team wrote on its website. Brandt is a sports agent turned NFL executive who spent about 10 years with the Green Bay Packers. The NFL currently has three head coaches that are of African American origin. It featured powerful, experienced and successful Black coaches such as Eric Bieniemy (Chiefs OC), Todd Bowles, Byron Leftwich, James Franklin (Penn State HC), Leslie Frazier (Assistant HC/Defensive Coordinator, Bills), Vance Joseph (Defensive Coordinator, Cardinals), Jerod Mayo (Inside Linebackers, Patriots), Raheem Morris (Defensive Coordinator, Either way, Flores. He has a 3-3 overall record through Week 6 of the 2022 season. Green made the playoffs in eight of 10 seasons in Minnesota, with his most memorable campaign coming in 1998. Caldwell took over for Dungy with ease as he posted a 14-2 record in his first season as the Colts made it all the way to Super Bowl XLIV where they were upset by Drew Brees and the Saints. And what goes into hiring a head coach? Thomas was the Falcons head coach for just four games before the team decided to hire someone else for the job in the offseason. Frederick Pollard Frederick Douglass "Fritz" Pollard Fritz Pollard was the first African-American football player to play at Brown University. It attempted to address the historically low number of minorities in head coaching positions. He served as the defensive coordinator for the Miami Dolphins under then-head coach Brian Flores during the 2021 season. Nonetheless, Mr. Caldwell was fired the day after his fourth season.. Vance Joseph, who was the head coach for the Denver Broncos for the 2017 and 2018 seasons and is reportedly a candidate for the Miami Dolphins head coaching job that was left vacant after Brian Flores was fired. And to Alexis Gustin and Shannon Ray Green for their production assistance. He was also a terrific running back, earning All-America honors in 1916 while playing for Brown University. Mel Tucker was named the interim head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars for the final five games of the 2011 season. Hue Jackson was an NFL head coach with two franchises for four seasons. We did a lot of reporting on this in the fall, and you had some people who basically suspected that a lot of it stems from playing positions. He served as the defensive coordinator for the Miami Dolphins under then-head coach Brian Flores during the 2021 season. The Rooney Rule was enacted in 2003 as part of the NFL's plan to "develop a deep, sustainable talent pool at all levels of the organization" and "increase the number of minorities hired in head coach, general manager and executive positions.". The other part of it is I think from my view, there are more women in front offices now as well, and although a very small minority, more women in the coaching. Gerald Alexander. He was replaced by Jim Harbaugh. Yeah, I think the obvious point is that people tend to hire people like themselves, and that's not just true in the NFL, that's not just true in sports. Emmitt Thomas was named interim head coach of theAtlanta Falcons in the middle of the 2007 season after a sudden resignation left the position vacant. He had a long career in the NFL working his way up through the Pittsburgh Steelers organization and eventually becoming the only black general manager in the 60-year history of the Buffalo Bills. "Brush my teeth?" Art Shell became head coach of the then-Los Angeles Raiders in 1988, a job he held until 1994, after the franchise moved to Oakland, according to the Raiders website. Studesville was the interim head coach of the Broncos in 2010, going 1-3 to finish out the season. He was then hired full-time and was 8-8 in his lone full season. In his lone season as Kansas Citys head coach, he went 2-14 and was replaced by Andy Reid. In the suit, Flores cites text messages from New England Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick, who said he believed he was contacting Brian Daboll, another coach interviewing for the New York Giants head coaching position. And since America loves to ignore blatant racism unless they can watch it on video or it can be quantified into numbers, Deadspin took a look at the plight of Black coaches in the NFL over the last 20-plus years. If they could bring that character into our building, others would pick up on those same qualities. Overall of the on field coaches in the NFL, it's something like 43% are coaches of color. Mel Tucker was named the interim head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars for the final five games of the 2011 season. This in a league where seven out of ten players are minorities, and most of them black. Tony Dungy has been coaching in the NFL for more than 40 years, including when he landed his first head coaching gig in 1996 with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, which he led for 13 seasons. Mike Tomlin, Mike McDaniel, Todd Bowles, Lovie Smith, and interim head coach Steve Wilkes. Let's take a look back at the Black coaches who have been able to rise up the ranks, starting with the trailblazer who broke the NFL's color barrier more than 100 years ago. So you can look at different ways to judge minorities. Marvin Lewis, who coached the Cincinnati Bengals for 16 seasons from 2003 to 2018, is among the current and former NFL coaches who have denounced the league for racial injustices and told NBC Sports that Black coaches have been getting sham interviews like those alleged by Brian Flores for years. The year before, Norv Turner was 4-12, and the year after Shell left, Lane Kiffin was 4-12 in his first season. Mike Tomlin, Mike McDaniel, Todd Bowles, Lovie Smith, and interim head coach Steve Wilkes. Source . Dennis Greeen was the Vikings Head Coach from 1992 to 2001, and his 97 regular-season wins rank second in franchise history. He compiled a 56-52 overall record, reaching the AFC Championship game in 1990. Herman Herm Edwards, largely seen as a mentor to many current and former NFL players, coached the New York Jets from 2001-2005 and the Kansas City Chiefs from 2006 to 2008, according to the Pro Football Reference website. So what's happening here? There were five black NFL head coaches at the end of the 2022 season. Todd Bowles was a head coach in the NFL for five seasons, beginning with the Miami Dolphins in the 2011 season and four other seasons leading the New York Jets from 2015 to 2018. (At the time, it was called the American Professional Football Association.). Todd Bowles Starting our list on number 20 is the NFL franchise head coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Todd Bowles. Joseph, who is the current defensive coordinator of the Cardinals, coached the Broncos for two seasons (2017-2018). Jackson took over for Tom Cable, who went 8-8 in his final season with the team. Now-former Head Coach Brian Flores of the Miami Dolphins talks with an official during a game against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on January 2, 2022, in Nashville, Tennessee. He has a proven track record for developing high-quality players and constantly innovated his defensive scheme over the last six seasons in San Francisco.. But, if history is any indication and it is thats far from a guarantee. | Source: Wesley Hitt / Getty. All Rights Reserved. Personality's always going to play a big role. Emmitt Thomas Source:Getty Emmitt Thomas was named interim head coach of the Atlanta Falcons in the middle of the 2007 season after a sudden resignation left the position vacant. The franchise was a charter member of the American Football League (AFL . (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski) Smith has been part of the Titans' staff since 2011 first as a quality control coach, then helping with tight ends, then coaching tight ends, and eventually replacing current Packers head coach Matt LaFleur as the team's offensive coordinator in 2019. was originally published on This transcript was automatically generated, and then edited for clarity in its current form. First, look at the overall preview of our 20 black NFL coaches below. Top Row: Lovie Smith, Marvin Lewis, Tony Dungy, Mike Tomlin, Jim Caldwell Botttom Row: Anthony Lynn, Romeo Crennel, Herm Edwards, Leslie Frazier, Brian Flores. Antonio Brown, Mike Wallace, JuJu Smith-Schuster, and Emmanuel Sanders. There are just 32 NFL head coaching jobs, six or seven become vacant every year. Jackson claims the Browns incentivized losing while he was head coach in order to increase the teams odds in the NFL Draft. According to the Pro Football Hall of Fame website, "During his pro football career the two-time All-America played and sometimes coached for four different NFL teams, the Pros/Indians (1920-21/1925-26), the . MORE: The NFL Has A Major Black Head Coach Problem. Interestingly enough, Caldwell was mentioned in Brian Flores lawsuit as an example of a Black NFL head coach who was fired in spite of the success he enjoyed. Specifically, Flores claims hes had multiple incidents of racial discrimination that involved several teams, as well as coaches and executives around the league. He was also named assistant head coach of the Jaguars for the 2012 season, according to the Pro Football History website. That certainly lines up with what Flores lawsuit is alleging. Bowles was hired after Rex Ryans roller coaster ride with the Jets ended with a 4-12 finish in 2014. Lovie Smith was a head coach with the Chicago Bears for eleven seasons from 2004 to 2012 before he was hired as thehead coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2014to2015. He went 2-6 in eight games. This revelation meant Flores upcoming interview with the Giants was a sham because they had already hired their next head coach, who is not Black. Of the five head . Thank you for subscribing! Raheem Morris was an NFL head coach with two separate teams from 2009 to 2020, including leading the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2009 to 2011, with the first three seasons of that tenure including double-duty as the teams defensive coordinator. Schad interviewed Herm Edwards, he played in the NFL in the seventies and eighties. It seems like football fans in the media have the same conversation every year, where are all the black head coaches? I had access to the decision maker and the decision maker saw how I worked, how I thought, how I interacted with people, and how I led. | Source: Wesley Hitt / Getty. Tomlin is one of the best coaches in the NFL, at playing as the underdog which means he is still a big game coach that can match skills and wit with the best of them. Is it right, wrong or indifferent? Coaches[edit] Note: Statistics are correct through the end of the 2022 NFL season. He is embroiled in a lawsuit that he filed against multiple teams, including Miami, and the NFL for discriminatory hiring practices. newsone.com. That brings the total head-coaching jobs available to six, as the Las Vegas Raiders (Jon Gruden), Jacksonville Jaguars (Urban Meyer) and Denver Broncos (Vic Fangio) had fired their HCs prior to Black Monday. Cully was 4-13 this past season. In his three seasons in Indianapolis, Caldwell was 28-24 and replaced by Chuck Pagano. Dungy later became the head coach of the Indianapolis Colts. One person called this positional segregation. He was replaced by Mangini who went 10-22 in two seasons. Marvin Lewis, who coached the Cincinnati Bengals for 16 seasons from 2003 to 2018, is among the current and former NFL coaches who have denounced the league for racial injustices and told NBC Sports that Black coaches have been getting sham interviews like those alleged by Brian Flores for years. Robiskie was an interim head coach twice in his career, taking over for the Commanders in 2000 and Browns in 2004. Sports news website the Ringer reported that Flores was not fired because of his coaching but rather because of his troubled relationship with team owner Stephen Ross, a supporter of former President Donald Trump who has refuted claims of racial discrimination. Dennis Greeen was the Vikings Head Coach from 1992 to 2001, and his 97 regular-season wins rank second in franchise history. Smith wasnt able to capture the magic he had in Chicago with Tampa Bay. There's also disparities in the type of coaching roles black coaches are hired for. He stuck around for 15 more and was 131-129-3, but never won a playoff game in seven trips. Flores still has upcoming interviews for head coaching positions with at least two other teams, so, considering the public relations fiasco that his lawsuit is, chances are that pressure will result in him being hired. In all, Dungy has a head coaching record of 148-79-0 and won the regular season games he coached at a rate of nearly 70%, according to the pro football hall of fame website. Morris was 17-31 in three seasons and wound up being replaced by Greg Schiano, then Lovie Smith, and then Dirk Koetter none of them fared much better. Just 25 of them have been Black. He ended his career with a 113-94 overall record. Dungy later became the head coach of the Indianapolis Colts. Thomas was named the interim head coach of the Falcons in 2007 and went 1-2 after Bobby Petrino's sudden resignation. Tyler Dragon, sports reporter for USA Today, says the league already has similar programs in place. and over the next 13 seasons, which included seven years with the Indianapolis Colts, he racked up 148 total victories. In the meantime, keep reading to get familiar with the dozens of Black people who have worked as NFL head coaches in the leagues more than 100-year history. Coaching rumors are heating up with three openings created on Monday morning. Dungy was hired in Indianapolis after they went 6-10 before he arrived. Fewell was the interim head coach for the Bills in 2009 and Panthers in 2019. Dirk Koetter replaced Smith and wasnt much better, as Tampa Bay didnt get good again until Bruce Arians showed up in 2019. He has captured two AFC championships and one Super Bowl title. Your email will be shared with praisephilly.com and subject to its. In nine seasons in Chicago, Smith was 84-66 and made three postseason appearances including losing Super Bowl XLI to the Colts in the only matchup thats ever featured two Black coaches. In 2017, we had a record eight minority head coaches entering the season: Chargers Anthony Lynn, Denver's Vance Joseph, Cincinnati's Marvin Lewis, Pittsburgh's Mike Tomlin, Detroit's Jim. Other active head coaches to have won a Super Bowl are Mike Tomlin, John Harbaugh, Pete Carroll, Mike McCarthy, Sean Payton, Doug Pederson, Andy Reid, and Sean McVay. All Rights Reserved. He led the Oakland Raiders during the 2011 season and was the head coach for the Cleveland Browns from 2016 to 2018. In 1921, Coach Pollard became the first African-American head coach in the NFL, coaching the Akron Pros. A more diverse pipeline could help down the road. I said, "What do you do before you go to the bathroom?" For some reason, fans of all genders and races were stunned that Flores was unemployed as if Ross doesnt have a long history of being a contradictory figure. Dungy enjoyed a Hall of Fame career from 1996-2008, racking up 139 wins and 69 losses across 13 seasons with the Buccaneers and Colts. Brian Flores, who used to be head coach of the Miami Dolphins, filed a class-action lawsuit against the NFL claiming there is racial discrimination in the hiring process. The rule was expanded in 2009 to include general managers as well as other front-office positions. He only coached eight total games, getting all three of his wins with Buffalo. Of course, that type of logic is counterproductive and completely beside the point, what with the racial discrimination lawsuit filed by a former Black head coach and alleging that the NFLs ownership is colluding to keep teams head coaches as white as possible. Lynn took the Chargers back to the playoffs in 2018 where they lost to the Patriots in the second round. Mike Tomlin has been one of the best black head coaches in the modern NFL. newsone.com. Eric Studesville was the head coach for the Denver Broncos during the final four games of the 2010 season. Only one head coach in the last seven years. I'm proud to report today, my classes are basically 50/50. He is a former NFL player whose professional career spanned from 1986 to 1993. Emmitt Thomas Source:Getty Emmitt Thomas was named interim head coach of the Atlanta Falcons in the middle of the 2007 season after a sudden resignation left the position vacant. OBrien was let go after starting the 2020 season 0-4, as the Texans finished 4-12 under interim coach Romeo Crennel. Bowles, an Elizabeth, New Jersey, native, was the Jets' head coach . Your email will be shared with newsone.com and subject to its. McDaniel, who identifies as biracial, was named the head coach of the Dolphins in February 2022. Anthony Lynn was a head coach in the NFL for two teams over the course of five seasons. Contact The Promotions/Community Department, filed a class-action lawsuit against the NFL claiming there is racial discrimination in the hiring process, the NFL is an organization akin to slavery,, Heres Every Black Head Coach In NFL History, According to the Pro Football Hall of Fame website, according to the Pro Football History website, according to the pro football hall of fame website, according to the Pro Football Reference website, coached the Cincinnati Bengals for 16 seasons from 2003 to 2018, named interim head coach of theAtlanta Falcons in the middle of the 2007 season, head coach of the San Francisco 49ers for three seasons, NFL head coach with two separate teams from 2009 to 2020, a leading candidate for the Minnesota Vikings head coaching vacancy, Leslie Frazier was the head coach of the Minnesota Vikings from 2010 to 2013, Frazier interviewed for the Chicago Bears head coaching job, head coach for the Denver Broncos during the final four games of the 2010 season, Todd Bowles was a head coach in the NFL for five seasons, NFL head coach with two franchises for four seasons, Jackson claims the Browns incentivized losing, Anthony Lynn was a head coach in the NFL for two teams, reportedly a candidate for the Miami Dolphins head coaching job, Brian Flores was the head coach of the Miami Dolphins. Culley lasted just one season with the Texans, completing the 2021 campaign with a 4-13 overall record. As of the time that this list was published, Morris was seen as a leading candidate for the Minnesota Vikings head coaching vacancy. Tomlin showed up in Pittsburgh after Bill Cowher was 8-8 in his final season and one year removed from winning a Super Bowl. Lovie Smith was a head coach with the Chicago Bears for eleven seasons from 2004 to 2012 before he was hired as thehead coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2014to2015. When I look at the NFL landscape from top to bottom, they are really behind when it comes to diversity and inclusion. Mike Singletary was the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers for three seasons from 2008 to 2010. If you look at solutions instead of just focused on the problem, that's where I think we all should be focusing our energy. and over the next 13 seasons, which included seven years with the Indianapolis Colts, he racked up 148 total victories. Perry Fewell was the head coach of the Buffalo Bills for a single season in 2019. He is currently the linebackers coach for the Steelers. Tony Dungy has been coaching in the NFL for more than 40 years, including when he landed his first head coaching gig in 1996 with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, which he led for 13 seasons. Caldwell was brought in after the Jim Schwartz (gym shorts) era ended with 4-12 and 7-9 seasons. The Houston Texans announced this week that the organization hired Ryans on a six-year deal, making them the first NFL team to hire three consecutive Black coaches. Raheem Morris was an NFL head coach with two separate teams from 2009 to 2020, including leading the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2009 to 2011, with the first three seasons of that tenure including double-duty as the teams defensive coordinator. Either way, Flores. What's the setup of their operation? A lot of it is right place at the right time, a lot of it's knowing the right people, a lot of it is just hard work and accomplishments. Don Shula holds the current records for regular season wins at 328 and combined regular and postseason wins at 347. Whaley says women and minorities struggle to break through In this insular world. Edwards was with the Chiefs for three seasons and compiled a 15-34 record that included a postseason loss to the Colts in his debut year. Herman Herm Edwards, largely seen as a mentor to many current and former NFL players, coached the New York Jets from 2001-2005 and the Kansas City Chiefs from 2006 to 2008, according to the Pro Football Reference website. After taking over for Bruce Arians who went 8-8 in his final season, Wilks was 3-13 and was replaced by Kliff Kingsbury. Andrew Brandt agrees that the league has a long way to go and suggested similar programs to the one Whaley describes, but warned that the issue is complex and without easy answers. James Franklin (Penn State coach) So far, the best bet to be the first Black coach to win an FBS national championship remains Franklin, whose Nittany Lions will likely enter the season as a . Cliff Anderson (American football) Darren Arbet. He says that change is even happening in his sports business classes. Jim Caldwell has been head coach for two different NFL franchises: the Indianapolis Colts from 2009 to 2011 and the Detroit Lions from 2014 to 2017. I'm James Brown, and as always, be well. Copyright 2023 Interactive One, LLC. The fact is that Flores claims are hardly unique and help bolster critics suspicions that the NFL is intentionally trying to keep its head coaching ranks as white as possible despite the leagues so-called Rooney Rule, a policy that requires teams to interview at least one diverse candidate when looking to hire new coaches. Also, what's your assistant coach set up? Singletary went 5-4 as the interim coach to finish out the season. Specifically, Flores claims hes had multiple incidents of racial discrimination that involved several teams, as well as coaches and executives around the league. He has never had a losing season in his career, going 156-89-2 through Week 6 of the 2022 season. You can just interview a black or minority head coach and know that you're not really going to hire them, you're just making sure you cross all your Ts and dot your Is before you make that hire of the white coach you want. The Vikings went 15-1 that season and racked up 556 points, which set an NFL record at the time.. This revelation meant Flores upcoming interview with the Giants was a sham because they had already hired their next head coach, who is not Black.