Where Are Our Black Coaches?

70% of the players on the field are African American, but only 9% are on the sidelines as head coaches. Out of the thirty-two team owners there are only two that are people of color. Mike Tomlin, Brian Flores, and Anthony Lynn are only three African American head coaches in the National Football League that make up thirty-two of our teams. So now we have to ask ourselves why? Is it because of their qualifications? The lack of opportunity? Is this a black and white issue? Whatever the reason may be, we can change this.

Despite the surge in young African American quarterbacks, there’s a very transparent lack of variation in race and position in the NFL, especially when it comes to positions of power. We must look towards our playmakers to why this lack of diversity still exists. Those playmakers are our team owners. Society has shaped them into believing what a “traditional'' professional head coach should look like. Cedric Golden says “business owners are often more comfortable hiring someone who looks like them”, so subsequently people of color tend to be overlooked. The NFL is not different from any other business. The NFL is a corporation that centers whiteness as the default. African Americans aren’t hired because of their lack of qualifications. Many African American coordinators and college coaches have plenty of years behind their names that would make them ideal applicants for the job.

Eric Bieniemy, the Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator, has had one too many interviews for head coaching positions, yet still hasn’t had the privilege to wear the title. Fortunately, Bienemy hasn’t given up yet and will not settle. Reports say that he is currently in the mix to become the Atlanta Falcons’ new head coach with a very strong interview. The Falcons’ team owner, Arthur Blank, recently fired former coach Dan Quinn after consecutive losses and blowing the unforgivable lead at the Super Bowl to the Patriots in 2017. Bienemy’s strong recommendations and years of experience make him a very strong candidate. However, we can not get our hopes up because the outcome is still not guaranteed.

Another issue is that offensive coordinators are more likely to be hired for head coaching positions than defensive coordinators. Undefeated states that “91% of offensive coordinator hires have been white” and in the last season before the pandemic, the NFL’s coaching staff consisted of two black offensive coordinators and ten defensive coordinators. Some may argue that we can force the hands of our team owners to change their hiring but the stigma and stereotypes surrounding African Americans in professional sports will be a bit more difficult to change. The standards for hiring African American head coaches are also raised in comparison to their white counterparts with high expectations placed on their prior football experience. Additionally Undefeated states that, “white head coaches are hired at younger ages than coaches of color.” This needs to change.

The blame must not be placed primarily on the team owners. The owners give head coaches power to choose the team they want behind them. Head coaches have chosen not to place African Americans as their second man in power, therefore making it harder for them.

Although we are making slow and gradual progress towards more diversity in the league, we must strive to take more active steps into making change. I am not calling for diversity hires, but simply looking at all candidates on a fair and equal platform. We must get rid of this subconscious stigma that continues to play a part in decision making and start looking more towards the qualifications, years, and leadership behind their names and not the color of their skin.

Courtesy of NBC News

Golden, C. (2020, January 11). Golden: Why black NFL head coaches are becoming an endangered species. Retrieved January 10, 2021, from https://www.statesman.com/sports/20200111/golden-why-black-nfl-head-coaches-are-becoming-endangered-species

Martenzie. (2020, November 12). New study: Minority coaches still fare worse during NFL hiring process. Retrieved January 10, 2021, from https://theundefeated.com/features/new-study-minority-coaches-still-fare-worse-during-nfl-hiring-process/