Apparently, political-correctness and diversity isn't panning out in the NFL.
Future of black NFL coaches a concern after round of firings
A troubling year for diversity in the NFL ended on an awful note for the league Monday.
Four African-Americans — Marvin Lewis of the Cincinnati Bengals, Todd Bowles of the New York Jets, Vance Joseph of the Denver Broncos and Steve Wilks of the Arizona Cardinals — were among eight head coaches ousted in the annual purge that occurs the day after the regular season ends. Lewis, Bowles, Joseph and Wilks joined former Cleveland Browns head coach Hue Jackson, who was fired in October. That’s five black head coaches let go in one season. And Wilks only got one — one — season in what the organization acknowledged was a rebuilding year. Good luck proving you’ve got the coaching chops when you’re essentially working on an egg timer.
With the dismissals, the NFL now has only three minority head coaches, including two who are black: Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Anthony Lynn of the Los Angeles Chargers. Ron Rivera leads the Carolina Panthers. When the season kicked off, the NFL had eight head coaches of color, matching 2011 and 2017 as the most the league has had in any season, including seven African-Americans. The news from the front office is even worse.
At the conclusion of the 2016 season, the NFL had seven black general managers. In early December, the Oakland Raiders fired Reggie McKenzie, the 2016 NFL Executive of the Year. Once Ozzie Newsome of the Baltimore Ravens steps down, as long planned, from his position at the end of the playoffs, Chris Grier of the Miami Dolphins will be the NFL’s lone African-American general manager. League officials insist they are committed to diversity. Well, the state of diversity in the NFL can best be described as abysmal.
The person who leads the group that oversees compliance of the Rooney Rule, which states that an NFL team must interview at least one minority candidate for head coach and general manager openings, expressed concern for the sacked coaches.
“You dislike anyone to be fired because of what it does to families. It really knocks you back, and so forth,” John Wooten, chairman of the Fritz Pollard Alliance, said on the phone. “But you also understand that there are certain realities about this game, and the No. 1 reality is coaches have to win. We just have to make sure we’re showcasing people of color and giving them opportunities, which we do through the Rooney Rule.”
Future of black NFL coaches a concern after round of firings
A troubling year for diversity in the NFL ended on an awful note for the league Monday.
Four African-Americans — Marvin Lewis of the Cincinnati Bengals, Todd Bowles of the New York Jets, Vance Joseph of the Denver Broncos and Steve Wilks of the Arizona Cardinals — were among eight head coaches ousted in the annual purge that occurs the day after the regular season ends. Lewis, Bowles, Joseph and Wilks joined former Cleveland Browns head coach Hue Jackson, who was fired in October. That’s five black head coaches let go in one season. And Wilks only got one — one — season in what the organization acknowledged was a rebuilding year. Good luck proving you’ve got the coaching chops when you’re essentially working on an egg timer.
With the dismissals, the NFL now has only three minority head coaches, including two who are black: Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Anthony Lynn of the Los Angeles Chargers. Ron Rivera leads the Carolina Panthers. When the season kicked off, the NFL had eight head coaches of color, matching 2011 and 2017 as the most the league has had in any season, including seven African-Americans. The news from the front office is even worse.
At the conclusion of the 2016 season, the NFL had seven black general managers. In early December, the Oakland Raiders fired Reggie McKenzie, the 2016 NFL Executive of the Year. Once Ozzie Newsome of the Baltimore Ravens steps down, as long planned, from his position at the end of the playoffs, Chris Grier of the Miami Dolphins will be the NFL’s lone African-American general manager. League officials insist they are committed to diversity. Well, the state of diversity in the NFL can best be described as abysmal.
The person who leads the group that oversees compliance of the Rooney Rule, which states that an NFL team must interview at least one minority candidate for head coach and general manager openings, expressed concern for the sacked coaches.
“You dislike anyone to be fired because of what it does to families. It really knocks you back, and so forth,” John Wooten, chairman of the Fritz Pollard Alliance, said on the phone. “But you also understand that there are certain realities about this game, and the No. 1 reality is coaches have to win. We just have to make sure we’re showcasing people of color and giving them opportunities, which we do through the Rooney Rule.”
