list of black nfl head coaches

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. What's the setup of their operation? He has an overall record of 62-50 in seven seasons. 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. First, look at the overall preview of our 20 black NFL coaches below. 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. Dungy was hired in Indianapolis after they went 6-10 before he arrived. Green was 16-32 during his tenure and was replaced by Ken Whisenhunt. Exactly. Mel Tucker was named the interim head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars for the final five games of the 2011 season. In seven seasons with the Colts, Dungy was 92-33 as he made the playoffs every season and won Super Bowl XLI. 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. 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 . That makes grand total of three in a 32-team league where 60% of players are Black. As of the time that this list was published, Morris was seen as a leading candidate for the Minnesota Vikings head coaching vacancy. Shane Steichen, Offensive Coordinator, Eagles. 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. '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? | Source: Wesley Hitt / Getty. He was named the Sporting News Coach of the Year in 1995. 2. So what's happening here? 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. Shane Steichen (left) and Jonathan Gannon will be among the top candidates in the next hiring cycle. He ended those two stints with an overall record of11-44-1. What I was looking for is the kind of person that I don't know, does 50 pushups right out of bed, that makes a to-do list right out of bed, that has a routine. He returned to coaching when he took the head job at Arizona State in 2017. He has a 90-90-1 overall record through Week 6 of the 2022 season. Below is a look at every Black coach thats been hired since then and a snapshot of their story. But, if history is any indication and it is thats far from a guarantee. 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. Whaley says women and minorities struggle to break through In this insular world. So all minorities, look for a mentor, but pay it forward by being a mentor. 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. 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 certainly lines up with what Flores lawsuit is alleging. Perry Fewell was the head coach of the Buffalo Bills for a single season in 2019. Image: Getty Images When Stephen. 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. 12. He looked at me crazy and he said, "Well, go to the bathroom." 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. Anthony Lynn was a head coach in the NFL for two teams over the course of five seasons. MORE: The NFL Has A Major Black Head Coach Problem. The rule was expanded in 2009 to include general managers as well as other front-office positions. Copyright 2023 Interactive One, LLC. Mostly, Pollard would see the work and sacrifice he and other Black coaches have made wasn't. After taking over for Bruce Arians who went 8-8 in his final season, Wilks was 3-13 and was replaced by Kliff Kingsbury. Either way, Flores. Record: 40-33-1, 1-2 in the playoffs. He was 41-44 in his tenure and took the Jets to the postseason in three of his five seasons. NFC Head Coaches Arizona Cardinals | Jonathan Gannon* Atlanta Falcons | Arthur Smith Carolina Panthers | Frank Reich* Chicago Bears | Matt Eberflus Dallas Cowboys | Mike McCarthy Detroit Lions | Dan Campbell Green Bay Packers | Matt LaFleur Los Angeles Rams | Sean McVay Minnesota Vikings | Kevin O'Connell New Orleans Saints | Dennis Allen I said, "What do you do before you go to the bathroom?" There are just 32 NFL head coaching jobs, six or seven become vacant every year. Antonio Brown, Mike Wallace, JuJu Smith-Schuster, and Emmanuel Sanders. Kwesi Adolfo-Mensah - General Manager of the Minnesota Vikings. I think that might be part of the answer to why it exists, but I certainly don't think it's the entire answer. 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. There were three Black head coaches in the NFL when the Rooney Rule took effect, and the league hasn't made a ton of progress toward its goals in the years since. 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. Culley lasted just one season with the Texans, completing the 2021 campaign with a 4-13 overall record. There is an old boys network and there's a network where you're going to really protect and promote your own. I can go down and down the line, there's no majority black owner in the NFL. Tony Alford. Hit play on the player above to hear the podcast and follow along with the transcript below. 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. In 1921, Coach Pollard became the first African-American head coach in the NFL, coaching the Akron Pros. That's USA Today's Tom Schad, he's part of the NFL Coach's Project, USA Today's ongoing series analyzing the demographics of football coaches. After leading the Buffalo Bills for one season in 2016. He is currently Michigan State's head coach. 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. 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. Maybe they're not doing it as well as others, but I think sometimes they get faulted unfairly for things. Flores was fired on Monday despite leading the Dolphins to seven straight wins in the second half. 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. 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. Doug Whaley says this could too. Dungy later became the head coach of the Indianapolis Colts. When he took over in Houston at age 73, he became the oldest head coach in NFL history. He served as the defensive coordinator for the Miami Dolphins under then-head coach Brian Flores during the 2021 season. There are just SIX head coaches of color out of 32 in a league with a 70% non-white player base. After leading the Buffalo Bills for one season in 2016. In the text message, Belichick confirmed Daboll had already secured the job, but Flores had not yet interviewed for the position. 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. 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. Singletary coached the 49ers from 2008-2010, totaling 18 wins and 22 losses in three seasons. Thank you for subscribing! Our recent USA Today sports analysis found that in the last 20 years, about four white coaches were hired for every coach of color. Fritz Pollard became the first Black head coach in NFL history after the Akron Pros appointed him as co-coach in 1921.