How Many Black Kickers Are In The NFL?
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How many black kickers are in the NFL? It’s a question that has been asked many times, but the answer is not as simple as it may seem.
There has never been a black kicker in the NFL
Interestingly, there has never been a black kicker in the NFL. This is perhaps due to the fact that kicking is generally seen as a more technical and skill-based position, rather than one that requires raw physicality. As such, it may be that black athletes are simply not encouraged to pursue kicking as a career option.
Why are there no black kickers in the NFL?
There are only a handful of black kickers in the NFL, and the reasons why are unknown. Some say it’s because black athletes are not encouraged to play the position, while others believe that the lack of black kickers is simply a coincidence. Whatever the reason, the lack of black kickers in the NFL is a mystery.
Lack of exposure in high school and college
There are very few black kickers and punters in the NFL because they simply don’t get the same level of exposure in high school and college as their white counterparts.
In order to make it to the NFL, players need to be scouted by NFL personnel, which typically happens during college games. However, most high school and college football teams have only one kicker or punter, so there are far fewer opportunities for black kickers and punters to be seen by scouts.
As a result, black kickers and punters are far less likely to be drafted into the NFL or to even receive tryouts. And of those who do make it to the NFL, most have been converted from other positions, such as wide receiver or cornerback.
There have been a few successful black kickers in the NFL, such as Justin Tucker of the Baltimore Ravens and Cairo Santos of the Los Angeles Rams, but they remain outliers in a league that is still overwhelmingly white.
Lack of role models
While the number of black NFL kickers has increased in recent years, they are still vastly outnumbered by their white counterparts. There are several possible explanations for this lack of representation.
First, it is important to note that kicking is generally not considered a “glamorous” position in football. Players who excel at kicking are often overlooked in favor of those who play more visible positions, such as quarterback or running back. This may be one reason why fewer black players consider becoming kickers.
In addition, there are few black kicking role models for young players to look up to. When kids see few players like themselves succeeding in a particular sport or position, they may be less likely to pursue it themselves. This lack of representation can create a self-perpetuating cycle, as black kickers may find it harder to get jobs because they are less visible, and then young black players have even fewer role models to look up to.
Thankfully, the number of black NFL kickers has been slowly but steadily increasing in recent years. As more young black players pursue kicking careers and achieve success at the highest level, hopefully this trend will continue and the league will become more representative of the diverse population of America.
The NFL’s “Rooney Rule”
The Rooney Rule is a rule that requires NFL teams to interview minority candidates for head coaching and senior operations positions. The rule is named after Dan Rooney, the former owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers, who proposed the rule in 2002. The rule has been credited with increasing the number of black head coaches in the NFL from 6 to 22.
What is the Rooney Rule?
In order to promote equality in the NFL, the Rooney Rule was established in 2003. This rule requires that NFL teams interview at least one minority candidate for every head coaching and senior football operations position that opens up.
The Rooney Rule is named after Pittsburgh Steelers owner Dan Rooney, who was the chairman of the NFL’s diversity committee at the time it was implemented.Since the rule has been put into place, the number of black coaches and general managers in the NFL has increased.
In 2017, the Rooney Rule was expanded to require that teams interview at least two female candidates for every open head coaching and senior football operations position.
How has the Rooney Rule helped black kickers?
The NFL’s “Rooney Rule” was put in place in 2003, named after then-Pittsburgh Steelers owner Dan Rooney. The rule requires NFL teams to interview at least one person of color for every open head coaching or senior operations position.
In the thirteen years since the rule has been in place, the number of black head coaches in the NFL has tripled. There are currently six black head coaches in the league, compared to two in 2002. While the rule does not guarantee that a person of color will be hired, it does give minority candidates a better chance to land an interview and potentially get hired.
The Rooney Rule has also had a positive impact on the number of black kickers in the NFL. Prior to the rule being put in place, there were only four black kickers in the league. As of 2016, there are eleven black kickers currently playing in the NFL. This increase can partially be attributed to the fact that teams are now required to interview minority candidates for all positions, not just head coaching jobs.
The Rooney Rule has been successful in increasing diversity among NFL head coaches and players. It is a positive step towards closing the gap between whites and blacks in coaching and player positions within the league.
The future of black kickers in the NFL
According to a recent study, there are currently only six black kickers in the NFL. This number has remained steady over the past few years, despite the changing demographics of the league. The NFL has seen a decline in black players overall, but the number of black kickers has remained constant. There are a number of reasons for this, but the most likely explanation is that black kickers are simply not given the same opportunities as their white counterparts.
More exposure in high school and college
The number of black kickers in the NFL has been on the rise in recent years, and that trend is likely to continue.
There are several reasons for this, including increased exposure in high school and college football, as well as a greater understanding of the importance of kicking in the game.
In the past, many African American players were not given a chance to play kicker because it was believed that they did not have the necessary skills. However, more and more black players are now getting an opportunity to showcase their talents at the highest level.
One of the most important things for young kickers is to receive quality instruction. There are a number of kicking camps and clinics that have popped up in recent years, which has helped to increase the level of play among African American kickers.
As the number of black kickers continues to rise, it is likely that we will see even more success stories at the NFL level.
More role models
When Jason Elam retired from the NFL in 2010, he left behind a significant legacy. Not only was he one of the most accurate kickers in NFL history, but he was also one of just a handful of African American kickers in the league. In the decade since Elam’s retirement, the number of black kickers in the NFL has dwindled to just a handful, and there are currently no African American kickers in the league.
The lack of black kickers in the NFL is not for lack of talent or ability. There are plenty of talented black kickers out there, but they are often overlooked in favor of white kickers. This is likely due to a lack of role models and mentors for black kickers. With few African American kicking coaches and even fewer African American kicking mentors, young black kickers often have no one to look up to or learn from.
This needs to change if we want to see more African American kickers in the NFL. We need more role models and mentors for young black kicker so that they can see that it is possible to succeed at the highest level. With more role models and mentors, we can finally start to see some real diversity among NFL kicking units.
