| Source: Wesley Hitt / Getty. After serving as defensive coordinator for the Buffalo Bills in 2021, Frazier interviewed for the Chicago Bears head coaching job. That's Doug Whaley. A more diverse pipeline could help down the road. Smith was replaced by Marc Trestman who only lasted two seasons and had a losing record. He led the Oakland Raiders during the 2011 season and was the head coach for the Cleveland Browns from 2016 to 2018. Dungy later became the head coach of the Indianapolis Colts. It seems like an impossible task to succeed when the most important position on your roster is in such flux. Women being interested in this area of business or law, from my viewpoint, has really grown. 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. Emmitt Thomas Source:Getty Emmitt Thomas was named interim head coach of the Atlanta Falcons in the middle of the 2007 season after a sudden resignation left the position vacant. Hubbard Alexander. Bowles was hired after Rex Ryans roller coaster ride with the Jets ended with a 4-12 finish in 2014. Dennis Greeen was the Vikings Head Coach from 1992 to 2001, and his 97 regular-season wins rank second in franchise history. Having them sit in non-interview settings with the decision makers, presidents, and owners, everything I've talked about. MORE: The NFL Has A Major Black Head Coach Problem. 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 Owners and front office people who are in charge of hiring, they found loopholes in the rule. Andrew Brandt agrees that the league has a long way to go and suggested similar programs to the one Whaley describes, but warned that the issue is complex and without easy answers. 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. After serving as defensive coordinator for the Buffalo Bills in 2021, Frazier interviewed for the Chicago Bears head coaching job. Over the next few days and weeks, multiple teams will be conducting interviews to fill their head coaching vacancies. He is the current running backs coach for the Dolphins. Suicide Note Revealed After Shocking Death, Indicted! Lewis was hired by the Bengals after a 2-14 campaign. The following year the team was 11-5 and Smith won Coach of the Year. Our recent USA Today sports analysis found that in the last 20 years, about four white coaches were hired for every coach of color. We see coaches, as I mentioned, like Ron Rivera, Mike McDaniel, Robert Saleh, not exclusively African American. He went 2-3 in those games. 93% of running back's coaches in the NFL at the start of the season were coaches of color compared to something like 18% or something of quarterback's coaches. In that time, they hired two head coaches. It was when the GM above me and I was the assistant GM, he decided to retire, that decision maker was there in meetings with me, was there socially, professionally, and he understood that I could do the job. And while that happens, the lack of Black coaches will be the most discussed talking point. Let's take a look back at the Black coaches who have been able to rise up the ranks, starting with the trailblazer who broke the NFL's color barrier more than 100 years ago. He also coached the Cardinals for three seasons (2004-2006). Tony Dungy led the Bucs to a Wild-Card Game. Joseph only lasted two seasons and finished with an 11-21 record. During his entire head coaching career, his two teams combined for a record of 89-87-0 across eleven seasons including going 3-3-0 in the playoffs, according to the Pro Football History website. Mel Tucker was named the interim head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars for the final five games of the 2011 season. Todd Bowles Starting our list on number 20 is the NFL franchise head coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Todd Bowles. Fritz Pollard became the first Black head coach in NFL history after the Akron Pros appointed him as co-coach in 1921. He was also named assistant head coach of the Jaguars for the 2012 season, according to the Pro Football History website. Caldwell was brought in after the Jim Schwartz (gym shorts) era ended with 4-12 and 7-9 seasons. He can move to number one with success during the post-Ben Roethlisberger era. Lynn was hired by the Los Angeles Chargers the following season and served in that capacity for four years through the 2020 season. When Stephen Ross Miami Dolphins fired Brian Flores on Monday, it sent shockwaves around the NFL. All three have had very successful careers while . 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. The dearth of African American offensive NFL head coaches is both systemic and deep-rooted, owing in parts to networking practices, the embers of retrograde stereotypes and the lasting effects of . There were five black NFL head coaches at the end of the 2022 season. 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. Marvin Lewis, who coached the Cincinnati Bengals for 16 seasons from 2003 to 2018, is among the current and former NFL coaches who have denounced the league for racial injustices and told NBC Sports that Black coaches have been getting sham interviews like those alleged by Brian Flores for years. Lewis was 8-8 his first season. Relationships play a big part too. As of the time that this list was published, Morris was seen as a leading candidate for the Minnesota Vikings head coaching vacancy. Dennis Greeen was the Vikings Head Coach from 1992 to 2001, and his 97 regular-season wins rank second in franchise history. The first thing you say is kudos to Mr. Rooney, obviously the driving force behind it, and I worked for him so I'm biased, but also the league for identifying a problem and trying to come up with a solution. Please be sure to open and click your first newsletter so we can confirm your subscription. For perspectives sake, the NFL entered Black History Month 2023 with just one single Black head coach despite its vow a decade earlier to increase diversity among its head and assistant coaches. He was then hired full-time and was 8-8 in his lone full season. Smith coached the Bears for nearly a decade (2004-2012) before a brief stint with the Buccaneers (2014-2015). He was replaced by Mangini who went 10-22 in two seasons. Brandt is a sports agent turned NFL executive who spent about 10 years with the Green Bay Packers. He went 11-21 in 32 games. Hit play on the player above to hear the podcast and follow along with the transcript below. Download Our New Praise 107.9 Radio Mobile App For Your Smartphone! No matter what you make, if I came in here and told you how to spend your money, what would you say? After serving as defensive coordinator for the Buffalo Bills in 2021, Frazier interviewed for the Chicago Bears head coaching job. He had a 131-122-3 record in 16 seasons and reached the playoffs seven times. It was a positive thing. and over the next 13 seasons, which included seven years with the Indianapolis Colts, he racked up 148 total victories. Tomlin showed up in Pittsburgh after Bill Cowher was 8-8 in his final season and one year removed from winning a Super Bowl. According to the Pro Football Hall of Fame website, "During his pro football career the two-time All-America played and sometimes coached for four different NFL teams, the Pros/Indians (1920-21/1925-26), the . The Jets hired Edwards after they were 9-7 the year prior. Thomas was the Falcons head coach for just four games before the team decided to hire someone else for the job in the offseason. 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. Emmitt Thomas was named interim head coach of theAtlanta Falcons in the middle of the 2007 season after a sudden resignation left the position vacant. The NFL's 32 teams began the season in full on Sunday with only three Black head coaches and two Black general managers in a league where the players are roughly 70% Black. And what goes into hiring a head coach? Over a nearly 20-year career as a coach in the NFL, Leslie Frazier was the head coach of the Minnesota Vikings from 2010 to 2013. was originally published on Wilkes was not retained and Smith was fired. Fritz Pollard became the first Black head coach in NFL history after the Akron Pros appointed him as co-coach in 1921. According to the Pro Football Hall of Fame website, During his pro football career the two-time All-America played and sometimes coached for four different NFL teams, the Pros/Indians (1920-21/1925-26), the Milwaukee Badgers (1922), the Hammond Pros (1923, 1925), and the Providence Steam Roller (1925)., It also added: In 1928, Pollard organized and coached the Chicago Black Hawks, an all-African American professional team based in the Windy City.. Edwards was hired in Kansas City after the team went 10-6 in Dick Vermeils last season. 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. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski) Smith has been part of the Titans' staff since 2011 first as a quality control coach, then helping with tight ends, then coaching tight ends, and eventually replacing current Packers head coach Matt LaFleur as the team's offensive coordinator in 2019. Hopefully, DeMecos hiring is the catalyst for more Black coaches in the NFL. Top Row: Lovie Smith, Marvin Lewis, Tony Dungy, Mike Tomlin, Jim Caldwell Botttom Row: Anthony Lynn, Romeo Crennel, Herm Edwards, Leslie Frazier, Brian Flores. Bowles went 10-6 in his first season and was 24-40 in his four years on the sidelines for the Jets. Smith was hired in Chicago after the Bears were 7-9 the year before, with Smith going 5-11 in his first season. After leading the Buffalo Bills for one season in 2016. I'm James Brown. He was also named assistant head coach of the Jaguars for the 2012 season, according to the Pro Football History website. The Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League (NFL) have had 13 head coaches in their franchise history. And Terry Robiskie served as an interim head coach in Washington as the interim position would be the highest level he ever reached in his career. Cully was 4-13 this past season. As a player, Ryans was a two-time Pro Bowler and is still the Texans all-time tackles leader. Flores still has upcoming interviews for head coaching positions with at least two other teams, so, considering the public relations fiasco that his lawsuit is, chances are that pressure will result in him being hired. Hello, and welcome to Five Things. Is it right, wrong or indifferent? He returned to coaching when he took the head job at Arizona State in 2017. When he took over in Houston at age 73, he became the oldest head coach in NFL history. While the policy has been able to open more doors for Black coaches during the interview process, front offices have largely declined to hire those candidates. Podcasts: True crime, in-depth interviews and more USA TODAY podcasts right here. This transcript was automatically generated, and then edited for clarity in its current form. 12. Specifically, Flores claims hes had multiple incidents of racial discrimination that involved several teams, as well as coaches and executives around the league. Mike Tomlin, Brian Flores and David Culley are the three NFL coaches. He served as the defensive coordinator for the Miami Dolphins under then-head coach Brian Flores during the 2021 season. Shell was the first Black head coach in the modern era of the NFL. Caldwell took over for Dungy with ease as he posted a 14-2 record in his first season as the Colts made it all the way to Super Bowl XLIV where they were upset by Drew Brees and the Saints. 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. In 2000, there were three Black coaches in the league. He went 21-38 across those four seasons. With all the controversy surrounding the NFL and its alleged efforts at diversifying head coaching around the professional football league, its worth putting things in their proper perspective for folks who may be shrugging and wondering what the big deal is. 4. In nine seasons in Chicago, Smith was 84-66 and made three postseason appearances including losing Super Bowl XLI to the Colts in the only matchup thats ever featured two Black coaches. 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. The Houston Texans announced this week that the organization hired Ryans on a six-year deal, making them the first NFL team to hire three consecutive Black coaches. The rule was expanded in 2009 to include general managers as well as other front-office positions. 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. I think that might be part of the answer to why it exists, but I certainly don't think it's the entire answer. Nonetheless, Mr. Caldwell was fired the day after his fourth season.. Brian Flores, who used to be head coach of the Miami Dolphins, filed a class-action lawsuit against the NFL claiming there is racial discrimination in the hiring process. Tomlin has been the coach of the Steelers since 2007, making him the second-longest tenured coach in the NFL behind only Bill Belichick. Green was picked up in Arizona after Dave McGinnis had three consecutive losing seasons in the desert. But, if history is any indication and it is thats far from a guarantee. Shane Steichen, Offensive Coordinator, Eagles. That's something Doug Whaley, the former NFL GM we met earlier, learned in his career. After taking over for Bruce Arians who went 8-8 in his final season, Wilks was 3-13 and was replaced by Kliff Kingsbury. | Source: Wesley Hitt / Getty. Dennis Green took the Vikings to the NFC Championship Game. Dennis Greeen was the Vikings Head Coach from 1992 to 2001, and his 97 regular-season wins rank second in franchise history. Brian Flores was the head coach of the Miami Dolphins from 2019 through the 2021 season, after which he was fired. Maybe they're not doing it as well as others, but I think sometimes they get faulted unfairly for things. 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. Tony Dungy has been coaching in the NFL for more than 40 years, including when he landed his first head coaching gig in 1996 with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, which he led for 13 seasons. He served in the same double capacity with the Atlanta Falcons in 2020. He lasted three years in Indianapolis (2009-2011) before getting another opportunity in Detroit (2014-2017). Jackson claims the Browns incentivized losing while he was head coach in order to increase the teams odds in the NFL Draft. We might have you on the show. The league has even gone to such drastic measures as partnering with rap legend JAY Z in the name of entertainment and social justice as a way to help accomplish its evasive mission. Notably, Jackson responded to Flores lawsuit by claiming he was subjected to similar treatment described in the complaint. Hopefully, DeMecos hiring is the catalyst for more Black coaches in the NFL. Andrew Brandt would know. Green made the playoffs in eight of 10 seasons in Minnesota, with his most memorable campaign coming in 1998. Anytime you have to implement a rule to interview a black head coaching candidate or a minority head coaching candidate, that's admitting there's a problem. "Brush my teeth?" Schad says this goes back a while. Flores was fired on Monday despite leading the Dolphins to seven straight wins in the second half. The rule was named after Dan Rooney, then owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Flores still has upcoming interviews for head coaching positions with at least two other teams, so, considering the public relations fiasco that his lawsuit is, chances are that pressure will result in him being hired. Edwards was 10-6 in his first season and took the team to the second round of the playoffs. Mike Singletary was the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers for three seasons from 2008 to 2010. Jackson claims the Browns incentivized losing while he was head coach in order to increase the teams odds in the NFL Draft. He coached the Los Angeles Chargers. The first version of the policy required every team with a head coaching vacancy to interview at least one minority during their process. Thomas was named the interim head coach of the Falcons in 2007 and went 1-2 after Bobby Petrino's sudden resignation. This revelation meant Flores upcoming interview with the Giants was a sham because they had already hired their next head coach, who is not Black. The year before, Norv Turner was 4-12, and the year after Shell left, Lane Kiffin was 4-12 in his first season. He left the league with a 54-74 overall record. Todd Haley took over for Edwards and was 19-26 during his run. Now-former Head Coach Brian Flores of the Miami Dolphins talks with an official during a game against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on January 2, 2022, in Nashville, Tennessee. Mike Singletary was the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers for three seasons from 2008 to 2010. Eric Studesville was the head coach for the Denver Broncos during the final four games of the 2010 season. He led the Oakland Raiders during the 2011 season and was the head coach for the Cleveland Browns from 2016 to 2018. You're going to be like, "All right, let me just check that box and go through this process, but I'm still going to do what I want to.". 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. During his entire head coaching career, his two teams combined for a record of 89-87-0 across eleven seasons including going 3-3-0 in the playoffs, according to the Pro Football History website. Tomlin was 10-6 in his first season and is still in Pittsburgh. The other part of it is I think from my view, there are more women in front offices now as well, and although a very small minority, more women in the coaching. Flores was replacing Adam Gase who was 23-25 in three seasons, as he went 24-25 in three seasons. Wilks didnt do a good job in his first season with the Cardinals, but well never know if it was a fluke or the norm, as it was also his only season in Arizona. Below is a look at every Black coach thats been hired since then and a snapshot of their story. Vance Joseph, who was the head coach for the Denver Broncos for the 2017 and 2018 seasons and is reportedly a candidate for the Miami Dolphins head coaching job that was left vacant after Brian Flores was fired.