How Many Black Coordinators are in the NFL?

The NFL has a problem with race. How many black coordinators are in the NFL?

The current state of black coordinators in the NFL

In 2020, there are only four black coordinators across the NFL. This number has steadily declined since 2011, when there were eight black coordinators. The lack of black coordinators is troubling, as they are often some of the most qualified and experienced coaches in the league. This decline is likely due to a number of factors, including the Rooney Rule and a recent push for more diverse coaching staffs. While the NFL has made some progress in hiring more black coaches, there is still a long way to go.

A look at the history of black coordinators in the NFL

When Lee Davis became the head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1992, he made history as the NFL’s first black coordinator. It was a significant moment for the league, but also for black coaches who had been largely excluded from top coaching positions.

Since then, the number of black coordinators in the NFL has slowly but steadily increased. In 2009, there were eight black coordinators in the league. This season, there are 11.

While this is a positive trend, it’s important to remember that black coordinators are still vastly outnumbered by their white counterparts. Of the 32 NFL teams, only 11 have a black coordinator. That means that just over one third of the league’s teams have a black coordinator.

There is still a long way to go before black coordinators are truly represented in proportion to their numbers in the league . But each year, more and more black coaches are given opportunities to lead NFL teams and that is something to celebrate.

The challenges black coordinators face in the NFL

In the National Football League, African Americans have been largely absent from the coordinator ranks. There are currently only four black offensive coordinators and two black defensive coordinators in the NFL. This is a significant decline from 2006, when there were eight black offensive coordinators and four black defensive coordinators. While the percentage of African American head coaches has increased in recent years, the number ofcoordinators has fallen.

There are several reasons for this decline. First, owner’s preference for white head coaches means that there are fewer opportunities for blacks to become coordinators. Second, the league’s Rooney Rule, which requires teams to interview minority candidates for head coaching jobs, does not apply to coordinator positions. As a result, there is no incentive for teams to interview or hire black coordinators. Finally, many African American assistant coaches are not given the opportunity to call plays or make personnel decisions, meaning they are not groomed for coordinator positions.

The lack of black coordinators is an important issue because coordinators play a vital role in determining a team’s gameplan and strategy. They also have a significant impact on the development of young players. Without more African Americans in coordinator roles, the NFL is at risk of becoming even more segregated and leaving blacks behind in terms of coaching opportunities.

The future of black coordinators in the NFL

The number of black coordinators in the NFL has been on the rise in recent years, but the total still lags behind the number of minorities in player roles.

There are currently eight black coordinators in the NFL, up from six last year and four in 2016. But that number is still just shy of 10 percent of all NFL coordinators, despite blacks making up about 70 percent of all NFL players.

Of the eight black coordinators, six are on offense and two are on defense. Five of those offensive coordinators – Hue Jackson ( Browns), Darrell Bevell ( Seahawks), Anthony Lynn ( Chargers), Jerrod Niemann ( 49ers) and Maurice Carthon ( Cardinals) – are also head coaches or have been head coaches in the past.

The future of black coordinators in the NFL looks promising with several young coaches on the rise. The league has also taken steps to address the lack of diversity among its coaching ranks with the development of the “Rooney Rule,” named after Steelers owner Dan Rooney, which requires teams to interview at least one minority candidate for head coaching vacancies.