Is the NFL head coaching situation really evidence of racism?

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For the NFL, it seems, increasingly, that one of the well-worn rituals among a segment of talking heads and media covering the league is to wait impatiently at the end of the season for the pink slips to be handed out. between – usually – underperforming head coaches and front office executives and to see who can be quicker to throw accusations of “racism” in the process.

It’s become reflexive, and it’s usually done with such haste that it couldn’t have involved a thorough investigation of possible root causes – beyond those of a win-loss record, of course. – which could have led to layoffs. But are these commentators right?

Of the last five black head coaches to be hired in the NFL, two were fired after one season, one was fired after two, another was fired after three.

Mike Tomlin is currently the only active black head coach. pic.twitter.com/AzM1MkLV9P

— NFL Sports News (@sn_nfl) January 13, 2022

Let me start by saying first, my view is that there is nothing “essential” about race (or gender, or other demographic traits) when it comes to coaching NFL teams. In other words, I would expect anyone with sufficient exposure, experience and aptitude to be part of the group of people who could potentially be the head coach of a NFL team. Of course, the pool of people with these three things is extremely small, and there are only 32 spots available at any given time.

But maybe the teams, or their property, are racist. After all, Mike Tomlin, Robert Saleh and Ron Rivera are the only minority head coaches left in the league after the 2021 season, with Brian Flores and David Culley both recently let go.

With only three minority head coaches in the league, a question arose in my mind: Over time, what has been the representation of minority head coaches in the NFL? In other words, how many franchises have had minority coaches at their helm.

So, as I’m inclined to do, I dug into the data:

The Modern History of Minority Head Coaches in the NFL

NFC East

Cowboys

giants

Eagles – Ray Rhodes (29-34-1)

Washington – Ron Rivera (14-19), Terry Robiskie (1-2)

NFC South

Saints

Falcons – Raheem Morris (4-7)

Panthers – Ron Rivera (76-63-1)

Buccaneers – Tony Dungy (54-42); Lovie Smith (8-24); Raheem Morris (17-31)

NFC North

Vikings – Dennis Green (97-62); Leslie Frazier (21-32-1)

Bears – Lovie Smith (81-63)

Lions – Jim Caldwell (36-28)

Packers – Ray Rhodes (8-8)

NFC West

Cardinals – Dennis Green (16-32); Steve Wilks (3-13)

49ers – Mike Singletary (18-22)

sea ​​hawks

Rams

AFC East

Dolphins – Brian Flores (24-25); Todd Bowles (2-1)

Bills – Anthony Lynn (0-1)

patriots

Jets- Herm Edwards (39-41); Todd Bowles (24-40); Robert Saleh (4-13)

AFC South

jaguars

Foals – Tony Dungy (85-27); Jim Caldwell (26-22)

Titans

Texans – Romeo Crennel (4-8); David Culley (4-13)

AFC North

Browns-Hue Jackson (3-36-1); Romeo Crennel (24-40); Terry Robiskie (1-4)

Bengals- Marvin Lewis (131-122-3)

crows

Steelers – Mike Tomlin (154-85-2)

AFC West

Heads – Herm Edwards (15-33); Romeo Crennel (4-15)

Chargers – Anthony Lynn (33-31)

Raiders- Art Shell (56-52); Boo Jackson (8-8)

Broncos – Vance Joseph (11-21)

Results

Thus, of the 32 NFL teams, 23 of them (72%) have had at least one minority head coach in the last 20 to 30 years. It’s not proof that racism doesn’t exist in the NFL – surely a part of it – but it’s proof that “racism” isn’t a blocking objection for the lion’s share of the league in terms hiring a head coach.

But let’s take a closer look at this group. Of the individuals here, there are two who, if time stood still right now, would either be in the Hall of Fame or headed there. Tony Dungy, most famous for his time with the Colts, was inducted into the Hall in 2016. Mike Tomlin, who enjoyed an unprecedented string of success with the Steelers, will surely be heading to Canton when his career is finally over.

It’s also worth mentioning that longtime Raiders head coach Art Shell was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1989 as a player.

The collective record for this group is 1135-1100-9 (51%). Without the two Hall of Fame caliber coaches, the collective record drops to 842-946-7 (47%), slightly below average.

At this point, I expect several “this is racist” elation to arise. And I would find it hard to disagree. Ratings of people based solely on their skin color or ethnicity can, by definition, be “racist.” They rely on a single variable and – in some cases – try to attribute causation to it. I don’t do that here.

I’m just illustrating that among the group of minority head coaches who have served in the NFL, there are some excellent, some good, and some quite incompetent, which I would expect this be the same pattern if the drill was done for white head coaches. For every Bill Walsh, there are dozens of Jeff Fishers and Urban Meyers.

Conclusion

In closing, it’s not that I don’t think deep racism existed in the NFL. It has, and I’ve written about it in the past. It’s that the modern NFL is one in which teams generally use every tool at their disposal to compete and win games.

To a historically unprecedented extent, they also appear to recognize the value – all things being equal – of having a diversity of personnel within their coaching ranks and front offices. The league has even instituted granting compensatory draft picks to teams that do an effective job of advancing minority candidates, who are then picked up by other franchises.

My desire with this piece is to stifle and temper lazy, unthinking impulses to conduct in-depth evaluation on matters that merit much deeper investigation, for the sake of social media attention or “ imaginary influence.

I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.

Poll Do you believe that “racism” is a significant barrier to the hiring and firing of minority head coaches in the NFL?

25%

I believe that it exists, but that it is not significant. (15 votes)

36%

I believe it exists, and it is important. (22 votes)

21%

I don’t believe it exists. (13 votes)

16%

Is it “third rail” week on Hogs Haven? (10 votes) 60 total votes Vote now

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