The NFL’s head coaching hiring process is proving to be more of the same when it comes to Black NFL coaches.
There appears to be a “type” that teams seek out when hiring head coaches. Sometimes it’s based upon a trend or breed. At one point it was tough, hard-nosed, no-nonsense, defensive-minded coaches like Rex Ryan, Mike Tomlin, and John Harbaugh. Then, with offenses adopting more spread formations, younger coaches like Sean McVay, Kliff Kingsbury, Adam Gase, and Zac Taylor were in demand.
Some teams look for former players, like Tennessee’s Mike Vrabel, and some want experienced head coaches, like Andy Reid and Jon Gruden. Others give candidates the benefit of the doubt due to their coaching lineage, like Belichick disciples Josh McDaniels and Matt Patricia.
Yet one fact remains fairly consistent throughout all of these coaching searches.
Black NFL head coaches appear to have the path most littered with obstacles and excuses.
Now before the haters start spewing their retorts and pointing out the very limited number of exceptions to the rule, you should acknowledge not just the hiring process but also the aftermath of Black coaches being fired.
Jim Caldwell made the Super Bowl as the head coach of the Colts in the 2009 season. He moved to Detroit three years later and took the team to a winning record in three of his four seasons with the Lions, including an 11-5 inaugural season. He was released after the 2017 season for Matt Patricia, who proceeded to drag the team down to a 13-29-1 record in his three years with the team. Despite a head coaching record of 62-50, Caldwell has never been given another head coaching opportunity in the NFL.
Todd Bowles was hired by the Jets in 2015 and proceeded to guide the team to a 10-6 season. In the three years that followed, Jets management made life challenging for Bowles through poor draft and personnel decisions. Their most notable draft picks during his tenure were Jamal Adams and Leonard Williams, both of who are no longer with the team. Heading into the 2017 season, the Jets hamstrung Bowles. They parted ways with veterans Nick Mangold, Darrelle Revis, Brandon Marshall, David Harris and Eric Decker and lost Matt Forte to injuries and age. A year later, Bowles was fired.
Anthony Lynn coached the Chargers for the last four seasons, compiling a record of 33-31. He went 12-4 in 2018 and the team advanced into the second round of the playoffs. In 2019 the team slumped to a 5-11 record but this past season, with rising star quarterback Justin Herbert under center, they bounced back with a record of 7-9. Aside from the 45-0 obliteration inflicted upon them by the Patriots, the Chargers were in every game until the very end. They were also plagued by the injury bug but persevered and won their final four games. Yet that wasn’t enough to give Lynn one more chance in 2021.
As of today, there are four full-time head coaches of color- Mike Tomlin of Pittsburgh, Brian Flores of the Dolphins, Ron Rivera of Washington and Robert Saleh, the newly hired head coach of the Jets and the first Muslim American head coach in league history. 2021 began with seven coaching vacancies- New York (Jets), Jacksonville, Atlanta, LA (Chargers), Houston, Detroit, and Philadelphia. As of today, the first three have been filled.
No love for Eric Bieniemy?
The hottest (only) Black name on the market, Chiefs’ offensive coordinator Eric Bienienmy, appears to have fallen off the hotlist. He interviewed with the Falcons, Lions, Jets, Chargers and Jaguars but hasn’t received any offers as of yet. Houston, facing pressure from Deshaun Watson, finally requested an interview but they are not permitted to speak with him until the Chiefs’ season is over. The Eagles, who are also interested in McDaniels, just threw their hat into the mix with Bieniemy but face the same restriction as the Texans.
Now rumors about bad interviews have surfaced, further exacerbating the frustration felt by Black NFL coaches. But these reports were dismissed by CBSSports.com who spoke with Bieniemy’s agent, Brian Levy. Per that story:
“Levy said the feedback he received from teams about Bieniemy was overwhelmingly positive and that his performance in the interviews earned high marks. Bieniemy, who received strong consideration for multiple jobs last year as well, prepared diligently with Levy doing mock interviews with former NFL executives and others, while Reid has continued to champion the former NFL running back for all head coaching jobs, serving as his strongest advocate.”
“Something has to be done to change the way these owners are thinking and the way these hires are made,” said Levy “Otherwise, you are going to get the same results and right now, I can tell you, nothing is changing (for the better).”
Levy, who also represents other Black coaches including Mike Tomlin, is absolutely correct. If Patricia and Gase could retain their jobs after proving that they weren’t qualified, why can’t Bieniemy get a chance? Instead of recycling the same white coaches, why can’t Black coaches like Caldwell, Lynn, and Marvin Lewis (131-122-3) get another chance? They proved they could coach and they all have winning records.
Another interesting phenomenon is how white coaches with big names get chances that Black coaches are afforded. Jacksonville’s new head coach, Urban Meyer, was a proven winner in college but doesn’t have any NFL coaching experience. Jon Gruden, who left coaching in 2008 to become a broadcaster and analyst, returned to the sidelines ten years later and was given a massive 10 year, $100 million contract by the Raiders.
After what we’ve witnessed, I highly doubt Tony Dungy would be given the same package if he decided to leave NBC.
It’s dumbfounding to see the slights received by Black NFL coaches. In today’s game between the Chiefs and Browns, after Tyreek Hill’s game-clinching pass on 4th and inches with 1:16 remaining in the game, CBS Sports’ Tony Romo said, “And Eric Bieniemy, what a call right there. Him and Andy Reid together.”
Bieniemy is the offensive coordinator, yet credit reverts back to Reid. This is not a slight at Reid in any way, as he and Mahomes have openly advocated for Bieniemy and his head coaching potential. Rather, it’s frustration aimed at instances that minimize and limit the contributions, decisions, talents and successes of Black coaches.
It’s obvious that the more the NFL, the Fritz Pollard Alliance and the Rooney Rule try to affect change, the more change fights back. In the aftermath, Black NFL coaches are slighted or ignored too often. It’s an occurrence that needs to be rectified because it’s become an obvious pattern at this point.
“The numbers clearly reflect a broken and incongruous system for Black coaches,” said Levy. “Their paths are being blocked and/or detoured by a process that wreaks of nepotism and weak organizational infrastructures. There must be a clear plan put in place to ensure better opportunities, development and education for minority coaches and management.”
Otherwise, it’s just more of the same old.
