How Many Black Head Coaches Will Be in the NFL in 2022?

The number of black head coaches in the NFL has been on the rise in recent years. But will that trend continue? And how many black head coaches will be in the NFL in 2022?

Introduction

At present, there are only four black head coaches in the NFL: Anthony Lynn of the Los Angeles Chargers, Marvin Lewis of the Cincinnati Bengals, Todd Bowles of the New York Jets, and Hue Jackson of the Cleveland Browns. However, that number is likely to increase in the next few years. In fact, it is possible that there could be as many as eight black head coaches in the NFL by 2022.

The reason for this potential increase is simple: There are a number of very talented black assistant coaches in the league who are likely to be promoted to head coaching positions in the near future. Some of the most notable names include:

-Darrell Bevell, offensive coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks
-Teryl Austin, defensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions
-Jimmy Lake, defensive backs coach for the Seattle Seahawks
-Barret rousseau, linebackers coach for the New England Patriots

If even half of these assistant coaches are promoted to head coaching positions in the next few years, it would represents a significant increase in the number of black head coaches in the NFL.

Current state of NFL coaching

As of the 2021 NFL season, there are four black head coaches in the NFL: Anthony Lynn of the Los Angeles Chargers, Brian Flores of the Miami Dolphins, David Culley of the Houston Texans, and Urban Meyer of the Jacksonville Jaguars. This is down from a high of eight in 2011.

There has been a recent trend of hiring more diverse head coaches in the NFL. In 2020, three black head coaches were hired: Mike Tomlin (Pittsburgh Steelers), Ron Rivera (Washington Redskins), and Kevin Stefanski (Cleveland Browns). All three coaches led their teams to the playoffs.

The pipeline of potential black head coaches appears to be strong. There are currently seven black offensive coordinators and six black defensive coordinators in the NFL. Additionally, there are several talented black assistant coaches who could be promoted to head coach in the next few years.

It is difficult to predict exactly how many black head coaches will be in the NFL in 2022, but it is reasonable to expect that there will be at least six and possibly as many as eight.

Reasons for the lack of black head coaches

There are a number of reasons why there are so few black head coaches in the NFL. One reason is that many black coaches have not had the opportunity to gain the experience necessary to be considered for a head coaching position. Another reason is that some team owners and general managers may be reluctant to hire a black coach because they believe that the team’s fans may not accept a black coach. Finally, some people believe that the pool of qualified black candidates is simply smaller than the pool of qualified white candidates.

The Rooney Rule

In an effort to increase the number of minority coaches in the NFL, the league implemented what is commonly known as the Rooney Rule in 2003. The rule requires teams to interview at least one minority candidate for every head coaching and senior football operations opening.

There have been some successful outcomes as a direct result of the rule. In 2008, the league saw its highest number of black head coaches ever with eight, including Tony Dungy and Lovie Smith who led their respective teams to that year’s Super Bowl. There were also four Latino head coaches.

The numbers have fluctuated over the years, but as of 2019 there were seven black head coaches in the NFL, which is still higher than the pre-Rooney Rule era. It’s worth noting that several of those coaches are in interim positions and may not be retained by their teams after the season.

So, how many black head coaches will there be in the NFL in 2022? It’s impossible to say for sure, but with the Rooney Rule in place it’s likely that we will see an increase from the current levels.

Potential solutions

The number of black head coaches in the NFL has been on a decline since 2011. In 2020, there were only four black head coaches in the league. This is a significant decrease from the high of eight in both 2006 and 2011. There are a number of potential solutions that could help increase the number of black head coaches in the NFL.

-One solution is for the NFL to create a coaching internship program that would give black coaches an opportunity to learn from and be mentored by current head coaches.
-Another solution is for the NFL to continue to support the Rooney Rule, which requires teams to interview at least one minority candidate for open head coaching positions.
-Finally, the NFL could create financial incentives for teams who hire and retain black head coaches.

It is important for the NFL to address this issue, as the league should be representative of all of its fans. By taking steps to increase the number of black head coaches in the league, the NFL can help to ensure that all fans feel welcome and included.

Conclusion

There is no easy answer to the question of how many black head coaches will be in the NFL in 2022. The league has made a concerted effort to increase diversity in recent years, but it remains to be seen if that will continue. The number of black head coaches could increase or decrease depending on a variety of factors, including the success of current coaches, changes in ownership, and the pipeline of future coaches.