2 Black NFL Head Coaches to Superbowl XLI!!!

[DeltAlum]

Well, the NFL became the official name of an already existing league in the early 1920's -- and the first black head coach wasn't named until almost 1990.

So, were there no qualified black head coaches for the first nearly seventy years of the league?

I can't believe that.

But that's not the point of this thread.

My opinion still is that this is a worthy milestone to note.

[shinerbock]

Originally Posted by DeltAlum

Well, the NFL became the official name of an already existing league in the early 1920's -- and the first black head coach wasn't named until almost 1990.

So, were there no qualified black head coaches for the first nearly seventy years of the league?

I can't believe that.

But that's not the point of this thread.

My opinion still is that this is a worthy milestone to note.

Well, I think more likely during most of that time there weren't many black coaches at all. Not that they would have been allowed to coach in the NFL if they were around. Like I said, its good that things are more open now, but I don't think we need all the rhetoric to go with it.

[abaici]

I'm so tired of people telling other people what and who they should celebrate or what should be important to them.

[UGAalum94]

Originally Posted by abaici

I'm so tired of people telling other people what and who they should celebrate or what should be important to them.

Yeah. But I think this thread started with people who were happy just saying they were happy.

I think the element of direction came in only when others jumped in saying that they didn't think it was anything to be happy about.

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by Alphagamuga

I think the element of direction came in only when others jumped in saying that they didn't think it was anything to be happy about.

That's what she's referring to.

[blackngoldengrl]

I was very excited and proud (not that I had any hand in it) to see this. Also, my Pittsburgh-born roommate was excited about the new Steelers coach.
I would also be proud if someone from my college were playing in the Superbowl, but they're not.

[shinerbock]

DSTS, I'm alright, thanks.

[macallan25]

I applaud Dungy and Lovie Smith, absolutely......but I really don't think it should be made into a huge deal either. I'm more happy that Dungy is coaching in the Superbowl because of his horrible loss in the death of his son last year.....not because he is black. I'm rooting for Lovie Smith because he is an East Texas boy, same deal. People are acting like these are the only two black head coaches in football....there were seven this year. Considering they coached two of the top 4 teams in the league......I figured for quite some time that they would probobly meet in the Super Bowl.

Originally Posted by Alphagamuga

I feel different than you do because I do think there was a long time when black candidates were shafted in favor of unqualified white candidates. I don't know enough about NFL history, but I think it's likely that without either intentional or unconscious racism that a black person could have led a NFL team to the Superbowl before now.

I really don't think you can make this claim. Hell, I don't think any of us can make that claim. I'm pretty sure none of us are or have been an interviewing general manager or owner of an NFL team. Neither you nor anyone can assert that there was most likely a time when qualified blacks were shafted in favor of unqualified whites. First of all, why would an owner want a bad coach simply because he was white? That is absolutely ridiculous.....to sacrafice wins just to have a white coach. I certainly don't know what an interview process is like for an NFL team, now or in the past, but I would guess it is extremely difficult and a very arduous task trying to find 1 guy out of a short list or whom you think is the best to coach your team......so I have a hard time listening to people who want to bring talks of discrimination in NFL coaching.

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by macallan25

there were seven this year

The irony of this announcement is overwhelming.

[macallan25]

Originally Posted by DSTCHAOS

The irony of this announcement is overwhelming.

Well lets see.....I think 7 is a pretty damn good amount for head coaches. I'm not even taking into consideration the amount of black assistants....have you looked on the sidelines during NFL games? I see a huge amount of black linebacker coaches, running back coaches, wide receiver coaches, defensive line coaches, secondary coaches, etc. About the only positions you see white guys even doing anymore is QBs, offensive linemen, and special teams.

Now lets consider who is coaching right now. Mike Shannahan, Mike Holmgren, Joe Gibbs, Brian Billichick, Marty Schottenheimer, Bill Cowher....these are hall of fame coaches........they will always have a head coaching job as long as they want to coach. So that leaves you with 28 teams out of 32 that could have a possibility of having a coaching vacancy. Lovie Smith, Tony Dungy, Herman Edwards, these three black coaches are going to be around for a while as well. John Gruden, Andy Reid, Sean Payton, Brian Billick, Eric Mangini.......they aren't going anywhere either........so that leaves around 23 teams, give or take, that could possibly shuffle coaches year in and year out. Sorry......I just find it extremely difficult to make sure you absolutely have the most qualified 23 men out of hundreds of applicants......white or black.

.......or maybe I just went on a rant for no reason and should realize that the only way black people will be satisfied is when all 32 head coaches, every player, every coordinator, and every assistant is black.

[Sistermadly]

Canada did it first in 2005.

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by Sistermadly

You mean we don't? Darn, and that's the reason I joined an NPC sorority in the first place....

Infiltration? Spies?

Originally Posted by CrimsonTide4

I know the author of this article and his wife!

It's an interesting read. Where do you know them from? (I'm nosey)

Originally Posted by Sistermadly

Canada did it first in 2005.

Canada's so progressive. Universal healthcare and coaches.

[KSigkid]

Originally Posted by Sistermadly

Canada did it first in 2005.

Haha, let's not compare Canadian football to the NFL.

And Delt, you are correct, Art Shell was the first, with the Raiders.

[KSig RC]

An aside:

It's a well-known (and cited) fact that, although the overwhelming majority of players in the NFL are black, fewer coaches are black.

However, the 'breakdown' of coaches, compared to the overall racial breakdown of the nation, is closer/more similar.

Which should be the benchmark? Is there a middle ground? Does the coaching 'pool' more closely mirror the pool of players, or society at large?

[TonyB06]

Originally Posted by KSig RC

An aside:

It's a well-known (and cited) fact that, although the overwhelming majority of players in the NFL are black, fewer coaches are black.

However, the 'breakdown' of coaches, compared to the overall racial breakdown of the nation, is closer/more similar.

Which should be the benchmark? Is there a middle ground? Does the coaching 'pool' more closely mirror the pool of players, or society at large?

Good question.

I think the better benchmark is the historical composition of the NFL. The highly specialized, specific skill-set nature of the NFL naturally limits the talent pool. I concur that historically (I don't have the specific stat either) that the majority of NFL players have been non-white. Given that, the 70+ year absence of AfAm head coaches, or even the chances to regularly interview for head coaching spots until recently, makes the "drought" all the more pronounced.