Earlier this week, Jerod Mayo became the first Black head coach in New England Patriots’ history and at 37, the youngest head coach in the NFL.
The historical moment, contextualized in Boston’s spotty race relations history, was celebrated. Some were surprised by the hire, as they thought that former Titans head coach Mike Vrabel was the favorite for the job, but everyone was generally happy for Mayo and the team.
Then came the press conference.
After remarks by both Patriots owner Bob Kraft and Mayo, Andscape columnist Bill Rhoden asked Kraft about the significance of Mayo’s hiring.
“Let me say this to you, I’m really colorblind in terms of what I feel like on Sunday when we lose,” replied Kraft to Rhoden. “Winning and the Patriots is my passion. So, I want to get the best people I can get.
“I chose the best head coach for this organization. He happens to be a man of color, but I chose him because I believe he’s the best to do the job.”
Mayo responded as well, and that’s when things got interesting.
“I do see color because I believe if you don’t see color you can’t see racism,” Mayo said. “Whatever happens- Black, white, disabled person- I want you to be able to go up to those people and really understand those people. So it goes back to whatever it is- Black, white, yellow- it really doesn’t matter. But it does matter so we try to fix the problem that we all know we have.”
The response wasn’t a slight at Kraft, but rather a clarification without disrespect.
More importantly, Mayo’s comments acted as a refreshing reminder for a community that often sprints from discussions of race, particularly as it relates to head coaching.
NFL teams such as the Commanders, Raiders, Broncos, Bears have hired Black Presidents in the past few years, while the Dolphins, Lions, Browns, Falcons, Vikings, Titans and Bears have hired Black GMs.
But the hiring of Black head coaches has lagged dramatically.
After the 2020, 2021 and 2022 seasons, only one full-time head coach who identified as Black was hired per season. At the start of the 2023, season, there were only three full-time head coaches who identified as Black- Mike Tomlin (Steelers), Todd Bowles (Bucs) and DeMeco Ryans (Texans).
All three made the playoffs and Bowles and Ryans won their divisions and advanced to this weekend’s playoff games.
At the start of the postseason, eight head coaching vacancies emerged (the Panthers, Chargers, Falcons, Commanders, Titans, Raiders, Seahawks and Patriots), putting team hiring practices back under the microscope.
New England made the first move and it was historic.
On Friday, the Raiders (finally) named interim head coach Antonio Pierce its new head coach. This gives the NFL five head coaches who identify as Black, and with six vacancies remaining, that number could increase.
As of now, 12 NFL teams- Falcons, Ravens, Bills, Panthers, Cowboys, Jaguars, Rams, Saints, Giants, Seahawks, Titans and Commanders- have still never hired a Black full-time head coach.
That’s why Mayo’s comments were so important for they centered the conversation back onto a subject that has long persisted.
Saying you don’t see color is a lie for EVERYONE, as much as some deny it, sees color.
But can you then respect the person and their beliefs? Can you understand their position, situation and feelings? Can you appreciate their background, thought process and differences?
So seeing color isn’t the issue. It’s what you do afterward that matters.
As it turns out, the Patriots put a succession plan in place in January 2023 that called for Mayo to succeed Bill Belichick as the team’s next coach. New England notified the NFL and the Fritz Pollard Alliance about the plan and that allowed the team to bypass a full coaching search, which would have included fulfilling Rooney Rule interview requirements.
This wasn’t the first time that a succession plan benefitted a Black coach.
In 2008, the Indianapolis Colts announced that when Tony Dungy retired, Jim Caldwell would be his successor. A year later, Dungy stepped down, Caldwell stepped in and made it to the Super Bowl.
The Buccaneers made a similar move in 2022 when former head coach Bruce Arians stepped down and was succeeded by then-defensive coordinator Todd Bowles, who’s gone on to win consecutive NFC South titles.
In both cases, the successors were Black, qualified and successful.
In his Andscape story, Rhoden relayed that he spoke with Kraft after the press conference and Kraft “wanted to hire a Black man, wanted to make sure he got the right Black man for the job because he wanted him to be successful. Mayo was that person.“
So Kraft did see color.
But with an understanding that winning is race neutral, he wanted to ensure that he had the right coach, and right Black coach, in place to return the Patriots to their winning ways.
Oftentimes, the path many choose to deal with race is the one that veers furthest from it, a choice that ensures the issue festers.
But Jerod Mayo highlights a way to deal with race in a manner too bright to ignore.
While some, like Fox News, quickly pounced and labeled Mayo with the played out and meaningless “woke” term , others with more sense understood, respected and appreciated his stance.
Now the latter will travel with coach Mayo on a path to success together while the former seethes and prepares to attack him.
Unfortunately for them, Mayo is ready.
