How Many Black Coaches Have There Been in NFL History?
Contents
How Many Black Coaches Have There Been in NFL History? A blog discussing the lack of diversity among NFL coaches.
Introduction
The National Football League (NFL) has been a pioneer in promoting diversity and equality among its players, coaches, and staff. However, the league has not always been equally diverse when it comes to its coaching ranks. Throughout NFL history, there have been a number of black head coaches, but their numbers have never been proportional to the number of black players in the league.
In recent years, the NFL has made a concerted effort to increase the diversity of its coaching ranks, and as of 2019, there are eleven black head coaches in the league. This is still far from proportional representation, but it is a significant increase from where the league was even just a few years ago.
Here is a look at all of the black head coaches in NFL history, both past and present.
The First Black Coach in NFL History
The NFL’s first black head coach was Fritz Pollard, who coached the Akron Pros in 1921. Pollard was also the league’s first African American quarterback. He played professional football for 10 years before becoming a coach.
The First Black Head Coach in NFL History
In 1927, the NFL hired its first black head coach, Fritz Pollard. FritzPollard Alliance is now fighting for more diversity in NFL coaching hiring practices.
The First Black Quarterback in NFL History
The first black quarterback in NFL history was Willie Thrower, who played for the Chicago Bears in 1953. He appeared in just one game, completing one of four passes for 14 yards.
The First Black Super Bowl-Winning Coach in NFL History
In 2007, Tony Dungy became the first black head coach to win a Super Bowl when his Indianapolis Colts defeated the Chicago Bears. Dungy had been an assistant coach with the Steelers and the Vikings before becoming head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1996. He was fired after the 2001 season but quickly hired by the Colts, where he led the team to six playoff appearances, including five straight from 2003 to 2007. In 2008, Dungy retired from coaching.
The First Black Coach to Win an NFL Championship
In 1925, the first black head coach in NFL history was hired by the Akron Pros. His name was Fritz Pollard. He helped lead the Pros to an 8-3 record and an NFL Championship. Fritz Pollard is also credited with helping to pioneer the use of the forward pass in American football.
The First Black Coach to Win a Super Bowl
In 2002, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers hired Tony Dungy as their head coach, making him the first black man to ever hold that position in the NFL. Previously, Dungy had been an assistant coach with the Steelers and Vikings. He led the Buccaneers to their first Super Bowl win in Super Bowl XXXVII.
Conclusion
In conclusion, there have been a total of 21 black coaches in NFL history. Of those, Tony Dungy, Marvin Lewis, and Hue Jackson have been the most successful, with each winning a Super Bowl.
