Robiskie was an interim head coach twice in his career, taking over for the Commanders in 2000 and Browns in 2004. Notably, Jackson responded to Flores lawsuit by claiming he was subjected to similar treatment described in the complaint. Mike Tomlin, who, as of the time of this list being published, was the lone Black head coach in the NFL, has led the Pittsburgh Steelers for 15 seasons since 2007. There are just SIX head coaches of color out of 32 in a league with a 70% non-white player base. I think there's some basic qualities you look for. 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. He lasted three years in Indianapolis (2009-2011) before getting another opportunity in Detroit (2014-2017). One person called this positional segregation. 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. 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. Who are the youngest coaches in the league, and which ones are getting long in the tooth? | Source: Wesley Hitt / Getty. Maybe they're not doing it as well as others, but I think sometimes they get faulted unfairly for things. The year before, Norv Turner was 4-12, and the year after Shell left, Lane Kiffin was 4-12 in his first season. 20 Black NFL Coaches 20. 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. But, if history is any indication and it is thats far from a guarantee. There have been six head coaches of the Houston Texans, a professional American football team based in Houston, Texas, United States.The Texans play in the South Division of the American Football Conference (AFC) in the National Football League (NFL).. If they could bring that character into our building, others would pick up on those same qualities. Ray Rhodes coached in various NFL capacities for nearly 40 years, including a five-year run as head coach for the Philadelphia Eagles and later with the Green Bay Packers. Do you remember what your initial thoughts were when you heard that this kind of thing was being implemented? 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. The league is being sued by Brian Flores, former Miami Dolphins head coach. He went 11-21 in 32 games. The rule was named after Dan Rooney, then owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Eric Studesville was the head coach for the Denver Broncos during the final four games of the 2010 season. He is embroiled in a lawsuit that he filed against multiple teams, including Miami, and the NFL for discriminatory hiring practices. Whaley is part of a group that launched One Global Culture Events, which helped minority candidates in pro sports connect with upper management. 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. 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. Reich's firing after Week 9 was a bit of a surprise. Personality's always going to play a big role. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. 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. Despite the fact that coaches are beginning to opt out of the combine, both Pederson and Baalke will meet with the media to discuss strategy and other subjects on Tuesday, February 28 at 12:30 a.m . Morris, who is the current defensive coordinator of the Rams, served as the head coach of the Buccaneers (2009-2011) and Falcons (2020). He was replaced by Eric Mangini who was 23-26 in three seasons with only one playoff appearance. If they truly want to change the system or if not, then we realize that they're just given it lip service. 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 Milwaukee Badgers (1922), the Hammond Pros (1923, 1925), and the Providence Steam Roller (1925)., It also added: In 1928, Pollard organized and coached the Chicago Black Hawks, an all-African American professional team based in the Windy City.. Podcasts: True crime, in-depth interviews and more USA TODAY podcasts right here. He has never had a losing season in his career, going 156-89-2 through Week 6 of the 2022 season. Every week we take a concept or idea and go deep, and this week we talk about football, football coaches that is. It's true in business, it's true in life, and diversity only comes with some steps to increase representation and NFL is doing that. There are just 32 NFL head coaching jobs, six or seven become vacant every year. Wilks didnt do a good job in his first season with the Cardinals, but well never know if it was a fluke or the norm, as it was also his only season in Arizona. MORE: The NFL Has A Major Black Head Coach Problem. 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. and over the next 13 seasons, which included seven years with the Indianapolis Colts, he racked up 148 total victories. 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. 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. When he took over in Houston at age 73, he became the oldest head coach in NFL history. Eric Studesville was the head coach for the Denver Broncos during the final four games of the 2010 season. Green served as the head coach of the Vikings for 10 seasons (1992-2001), earning a playoff berth eight times. MORE: What happened to Brian Flores? McDaniel, who identifies as biracial, was named the head coach of the Dolphins in February 2022. As of the time that this list was published, Morris was seen as a leading candidate for the Minnesota Vikings head coaching vacancy. Mike Tomlin, who, as of the time of this list being published, was the lone Black head coach in the NFL, has led the Pittsburgh Steelers for 15 seasons since 2007. That's why I didn't have to do the interview. 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. Former NFL executives Andrew Brandt and Doug Whaley, and USA TODAY sports reporters Tom Schad and Tyler Dragon give their insights on the process of hiring coaches and executives in today's NFL. This is the NFL, a place where Black coaches get treated like third-class citizens. In 1921, Coach Pollard became the first African-American head coach in the NFL, coaching the Akron Pros. NFL owners don't want Black and brown men as their head coaches Bowles was hired after Rex Ryans roller coaster ride with the Jets ended with a 4-12 finish in 2014. The NFL currently has three head coaches that are of African American origin. It seems like football fans in the media have the same conversation every year, where are all the black head coaches? The dearth of African American offensive NFL head coaches is both systemic and deep-rooted, owing in parts to networking practices, the embers of retrograde stereotypes and the lasting effects of . He was named the AP Coach of the Year in 2009. He ended his career with a 113-94 overall record. 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. All Rights Reserved. After serving as defensive coordinator for the Buffalo Bills in 2021, Frazier interviewed for the Chicago Bears head coaching job. I'm James Brown, and as always, be well. Edwards was hired in Kansas City after the team went 10-6 in Dick Vermeils last season. 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. And to Alexis Gustin and Shannon Ray Green for their production assistance. 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. Who are the NFL's Black head coaches? A complete timeline of Black That is something that never seems to get noticed when we talk about the Rooney Rule. That certainly lines up with what Flores lawsuit is alleging. and over the next 13 seasons, which included seven years with the Indianapolis Colts, he racked up 148 total victories. The team relocated to Kansas City, Missouri and were renamed the Chiefs in 1963. 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. 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. True crime, in-depth interviews and more USA TODAY podcasts right here. He compiled a 56-52 overall record, reaching the AFC Championship game in 1990. First, look at the overall preview of our 20 black NFL coaches below. 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. Shane Steichen, Offensive Coordinator, Eagles. He is a former NFL player whose professional career spanned from 1986 to 1993. He says that change is even happening in his sports business classes. Wilkes was not retained and Smith was fired. He compiled a 56-52 overall. He is currently the Bills' defensive coordinator. Former NFL star DeMeco Ryans is the next Black man to ascend to the position of head coach in the NFL. I'll give you a quote from Bill Nunn, Hall of Fame scout from the Pittsburgh Steelers, the head personnel man for the 1974 draft that drafted four Hall of Famers is the gold standard of anybody in the personnel business. Ron Aiken. He left the league with a 54-74 overall record. Fritz Pollard became the first Black head coach in NFL history after the Akron Pros appointed him as co-coach in 1921. All Rights Reserved. But, if history is any indication and it is thats far from a guarantee. Jackson claims the Browns incentivized losing while he was head coach in order to increase the teams odds in the NFL Draft. What do you think of that player? He lost his single game with Buffalo and finished 33-31 with Los Angeles. Tucker was the interim head coach of the Jaguars for the last five games of the 2011 season. The Rooney Rule is 20 years old this year. There is an old boys network and there's a network where you're going to really protect and promote your own. Either way, Flores. During a nearly 40-year career coaching in the NFL, Robiskie was named an interim head coach twice once during the2000 season for the then-Washington Redskins and then during the 2004 season with the Cleveland Browns, according to the Pro Football History website. 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. He has an overall record of 62-50 in seven seasons. Coaching rumors are heating up with three openings created on Monday morning. Sign up for NewsOne's email newsletter! He has a 29-44 overall record through Week 6 of the 2022 season. As the league becomes more driven by quarterbacks, coaching quarterbacks is becoming a fast track to becoming a head coach. 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. Joseph, who is the current defensive coordinator of the Cardinals, coached the Broncos for two seasons (2017-2018). He is currently Michigan State's head coach. Last year, Ryan served as defensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers who had one of the best defenses in the league. 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. Image: Getty Images When Stephen. He led the Oakland Raiders during the 2011 season and was the head coach for the Cleveland Browns from 2016 to 2018. Which again, through experience, I've learned those are the key indicators for success. With all the controversy surrounding the NFL and its alleged efforts at diversifying head coaching around the professional football league, its worth putting things in their proper perspective for folks who may be shrugging and wondering what the big deal is. Tony Alford. Fritz Pollard became the first Black head coach in NFL history after the Akron Pros appointed him as co-coach in 1921. During his entire head coaching career, his two teams combined for a record of 89-87-0 across eleven seasons including going 3-3-0 in the playoffs, according to the Pro Football History website. 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. 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. The NFL has historically had a problem with hiring black head coaches and all minority coaches for that matter, whether that be head coach, assistant coach, coordinators, and you can even go in the front office, GM, assistant GM, president player personnel. 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. Here's a look at every Black head coach in the NFL since 2000 - Deadspin Suicide Note Revealed After Shocking Death, Indicted! A List Of Black Executives And General Managers In The NFL He served in the same double capacity with the Atlanta Falcons in 2020. Hubbard Alexander. Mike Singletary was the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers for three seasons from 2008 to 2010. The league in general is very tough because it's not like a lot of other industries where there's a criteria of how you get promoted. Heres Every Black Head Coach In NFL History Only one head coach in the last seven years. When Stephen Ross Miami Dolphins fired Brian Flores on Monday, it sent shockwaves around the NFL. When I look at the NFL landscape from top to bottom, they are really behind when it comes to diversity and inclusion. 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.". 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. He coached the Los Angeles Chargers. 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. He's accusing teams including the New York Giants and Denver Broncos of conducting sham interviews with him last year. 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. Jordan Greer is an NBA content producer for The Sporting News. 14 NFL assistant coaches who should be head coaches in the near future In seven seasons with the Colts, Dungy was 92-33 as he made the playoffs every season and won Super Bowl XLI. It was a positive thing. The NFL has just three black head coaches. Some call it a 'denial of said his lawsuit will not be deterred regardless of whether he is or isnt an NFL head coach next season. 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. Dungy was hired in Indianapolis after they went 6-10 before he arrived. How many black head coaches are there in the NFL? - Sportskeeda 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). Dungy later became the head coach of the Indianapolis Colts. 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. 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. Tomlin showed up in Pittsburgh after Bill Cowher was 8-8 in his final season and one year removed from winning a Super Bowl. Specifically, Flores claims hes had multiple incidents of racial discrimination that involved several teams, as well as coaches and executives around the league. That's something Doug Whaley, the former NFL GM we met earlier, learned in his career. He led Indianapolis to the franchise's second Super Bowl title in 2006. The Jets hired Edwards after they were 9-7 the year prior. What do you think of the show? I'm James Brown. 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. Our recent USA Today sports analysis found that in the last 20 years, about four white coaches were hired for every coach of color. 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. That certainly lines up with what Flores lawsuit is alleging. Mike Singletary was the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers for three seasons from 2008 to 2010. He went 2-3 in those games. 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,, 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. The rule was expanded in 2009 to include general managers as well as other front-office positions. List of National Football League head coach wins leaders Joseph only lasted two seasons and finished with an 11-21 record. In the text message, Belichick confirmed Daboll had already secured the job, but Flores had not yet interviewed for the position. Here's Every Black Head Coach In NFL History 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. MORE: The NFL Has A Major Black Head Coach Problem. After all, they may be musing, isnt the NFL disproportionately made up of Black players? Fritz Pollard. 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 . The NFL's 32 teams began the season in full on Sunday with only three Black head coaches and two Black general managers in a league where the players are roughly 70% Black. All Rights Reserved. Revisiting Dolphins scandal. Having them sit in non-interview settings with the decision makers, presidents, and owners, everything I've talked about. Brandt is a sports agent turned NFL executive who spent about 10 years with the Green Bay Packers. It's Sunday, February 5th, 2023. He can move to number one with success during the post-Ben Roethlisberger era. from Todd Haley that season when he was let go after a 5-8 start. Brian Flores, who used to be the head coach of the Miami Dolphins, filed a class-action lawsuit against the NFL claiming there is racial discrimination in the hiring process. Jackson only got one season to prove his worth with the Raiders after finishing 8-8 in a season in which the team started 7-4. Mike Tomlin, who, as of the time of this list being published, was the lone Black head coach in the NFL, has led the Pittsburgh Steelers for 15 seasons since 2007. Caldwell was brought in after the Jim Schwartz (gym shorts) era ended with 4-12 and 7-9 seasons. I think that might be part of the answer to why it exists, but I certainly don't think it's the entire answer. 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. Smith coached the Bears for nearly a decade (2004-2012) before a brief stint with the Buccaneers (2014-2015). 1. Green was 16-32 during his tenure and was replaced by Ken Whisenhunt. That's Doug Whaley. These days, he runs a sports law program at Villanova University and hosts the Business of Sports podcast. Specifically, Flores claims hes had multiple incidents of racial discrimination that involved several teams, as well as coaches and executives around the league. A Brief History of Black NFL Coaches - Usatoday.com He is the current running backs coach for the 49ers. Culley lasted just one season with the Texans, completing the 2021 campaign with a 4-13 overall record. He was also a terrific running back, earning All-America honors in 1916 while playing for Brown University. List of the top NFL head coach candidates for 2023 - Sports Illustrated The Vikings went 15-1 that season and racked up 556 points, which set an NFL record at the time.. Mel Tucker was named the interim head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars for the final five games of the 2011 season. To be sure, the NFL has had more than 500 head coaches over the course of more than a century of competition. Over a nearly 20-year career as a coach in the NFL, Leslie Frazier was the head coach of the Minnesota Vikings from 2010 to 2013. Fewell was the interim head coach for the Bills in 2009 and Panthers in 2019. The league has even gone to such drastic measures as partnering with rap legend JAY Z in the name of entertainment and social justice as a way to help accomplish its evasive mission.