The DC Defenders and the Arlington Renegades battled in an exciting XFL Championship with a surprising outcome as the league-leading Defenders were taken down by Arlington, the lowest-scoring team in the league, 35-26.
While Dani Garcia, Dwyane “The Rock” Johnson and the XFL brain trust will take the next few months to analyze the league’s first season under their leadership, some players are already reaping the benefit of being in the spring league.
Ben DiNucci, the former Cowboys’ QB, played with the Seattle Seadragons, led the XFL in passing yards and just signed with the Denver Broncos. Receiver/return specialist Darrius Shepherd and receiver Hakeem Butler, both of the St. Louis Blackhawks were invited to try out for the Detroit Lions and the Pittsburgh Steelers, respectively.
So it appears that the rebirthed spring league is working for players looking for a shot in the NFL.
But will these leagues benefit the careers of and opportunities for Black coaches?
It’s well documented that the NFL has a serious hiring problem when it comes to Black coaches. And the lack of a strong, viable pipeline for Black coaches to the league is just as alarming.
Could the XFL or USFL help strengthen that pipeline and become a way for Black head coaches to be seen by NFL owners?
The XFL has four Black head coaches- Reggie Barlow (Defenders), Terrell Buckley (Orlando Guardians), Hines Ward (San Antonio Brahmas) and Rod Woodson (Vegas Vipers).
The USFL has two- Ray Horton of the Pittsburgh Maulers and Curtis Johnson of the Houston Gamblers.
Barlow was the top coach in the XFL and while the USFL is still in the early part of its season, Johnson has the Gamblers at 3-2.
So can these leagues become a conduit for Black coaches to the NFL?
Barlow thinks so.
In an interview with The Washington Post, the Commanders’ head coach said he understands the situation facing Black coaches but believes the XFL can help boost their profiles and credentials.
“We’re well aware of the lack of minorities, and that’s another reason why this opportunity is so good for us and for me is because a lot of the times what owners are looking for usually is, ‘I want a guy that’s been a head coach or a guy that’s been a coordinator,’ ” said Barlow in a phone interview with The Post. “Well, there aren’t enough minorities who are coordinators — offense, defense, special teams. The picking becomes slim, and then not many of them have been head coaches in the pros or whatever.”
With only three Black head coaches currently in the NFL, the league’s hiring practices, particularly in the last three years, have been pitiful. With the XFL being positioned as a partner, not a competitor, of the NFL, it might help improve the dearth of Black head coaches in the league.
“We’re hoping with these type of opportunities, more minorities, Black guys can come and show that you can lead a group of men, you can have a plan. Our platform is a great platform,” said Barlow.
The XFL and USFL are fledging leagues, and both are hoping to avoid the pasts faced by the former iterations of the leagues. So far, their futures are brighter than those of the past.
And Black coaches are getting chances to lead teams in both leagues, helping them develop resumes and skills required to further their careers.
In some cases, like Barlow’s, the leagues provide a second chance for former head coaches.
If the XFL and USFL don’t become springboards to the NFL for these men, maybe they could serve the same function for elite Power 5 college programs.
With only eight Black head coaches at Power 5 schools (Ryan Walters at Purdue, Michigan State’s Mel Tucker, Penn State’s James Franklin, Maryland’s Mike Locksley, Dino Babers at Syracuse, Tony Elliott at Virginia, Marcus Freeman at Notre Dame at Deion Sanders at Colorado) and fourteen overall at 133 FBS schools, the spring football leagues could be a valuable opportunity for Black head coaches in college football, which, like the NFL has experienced its own decline in Black head coaches.
While head coaching experience does not guarantee a transition to the NFL, it can certainly help. And if the XFL and USFL provide successful opportunities for Black head coaches to shine and prove their talents, they become viable career options.
Hopefully, Black coaches like Reggie Barlow will be able to showcase their talents through the XFL and USFL and the NFL and college football programs will take note. If not, hopefully the success of these coaches grow as these leagues grow.
But for now, the XFL and the USFL can help fuel the Black coaching pipeline that desperately needs to be replenished and fed.
