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Good take on minority hirings in NFL

Kaiser Toro

Native Mod
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/story?columnist=smith_michael&id=2304091

Race an issue, but networking is still the key

At least it won't be a shutout.

But it is a blowout.

Herman Edwards' being "traded" from New York to Kansas City was the lone score for the cause. There were nine other NFL head coaching vacancies this offseason. Eight have been filled (the Oakland job is still open) with seven first-time coaches and one so-called "retread." Of the eight hires, none was a minority.

And so the NFL's diversity record remains six African-American coaches out of 32. A disappointing loss and an opportunity lost, for sure. But as can be the case with blowouts, minority coaches' going one-for-nine (and counting) isn't as bad as it looks.
 

TheOgre

All Pro
Good article. This process is slower than some would like, but I see progress. There are about 2-3 African-American coordinators and Ron Rivera that are almost overqualified for these positions.

There is one indirect benefit that I have noticed though. By the time a minority coordinator does get his first gig, he is so qualified that his chance for success is dramatically increased. The more successful minority HC's and the more owners will want to hire them. I'm a WASP myself, but I find myself rooting for Lovie Smith, Romeo Crennel, Denny Green, Marvin Lewis, and Tony Dungy (I just cannot find myself rooting for Herm Edwards, he seems like a man that "talks the talk" but doesn't "walk the walk"). Why you ask? If they succeed they pave the way for future African-American coaches. I want the best man to get the job regardless of race.

At some point I want the race thing to be a secondary factor in the game. It has become that for every position on the field except QB. Hopefully the race of coaches and QB's become a secondary thing soon and ownership becomes the next hurdle.
 
I agree that most teams go into the offseason with a coach or two already in mind. A perfect example was the Texans. Was it October or November before people started posting about Kubiak? You can almost see the dots lining up. I think that as time goes by, more and more coaches will be from minority ethnicities.

Here's my question: How many owners aren't white?
 

Texas_Thrill

Veteran
Well if that had always been the case they wouldn't have had to implement the rule. Thankfully we've come a long way.

I think if any place needs some work its COLLEGE football where they have I believe 3 out of 216 programs. YIKES.

I think the problem i'd been having was seeing a lot of retread coaches kept getting jobs in the NFL and minority candidates were being passed over even for an interview.

I agree the Texans had their mind made up so long ago it wasn't even really a doubt who the next coach was going to be.
 
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