What Percent of NFL Coaches are Black?

We take a look at the NFL coaching landscape and ask the question: what percent of NFL coaches are black? We examine the data and discuss the implications.

The History of the NFL and Racism

The NFL has a long and complicated history with racism. For many years, the league was predominantly white. In recent years, however, the league has made an effort to increase the number of black coaches. As of 2019, 11% of NFL coaches are black. This is up from 8% in 2014.

The origins of the NFL and its ties to college football

The National Football League (NFL) is a professional American football league consisting of 32 teams, divided equally between the National Football Conference (NFC) and the American Football Conference (AFC). The NFL is one of the four major professional sports leagues in North America, and the highest professional level of American football in the world.

The NFL was formed in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association (APFA) before renaming itself the National Football League for the 1922 season. The NFL agreed to merge with the American Football League (AFL) in 1966, and the first Super Bowl was held at the end of that season; the merger was completed in 1970. Today, the NFL has the highest average attendance (67,591) of any professional sports league in the world and is the most popular sports league in America.

The origins of professional football can be traced back to 1892, when Pittsburgh PA’s Allegheny Athletic Association staged paid exhibition games against neighboring Western Pennsylvania Athletic Club. These “club teams” were not affiliated with colleges or high schools, and they quickly became popular among blue-collar workers who had limited free time but could afford to pay for tickets. In 1903, several club teams from around the country formed a professional league called the Ohio League; this league had no ties to college football or any other amateur sport. The Ohio League’s success led to a meeting of representatives from several pro teams in Canton OH on September 17, 1920; at this meeting, they founded the American Professional Football Association (APFA). The first season of APFA play began a week later on September 26th; 14 teams competed in this inaugural season, including representatives from each of Ohio’s four largest cities: Akron OH, Canton OH, Cincinnati OH, and Columbus OH. Although two of these teams (the Cincinnati Reds and Columbus Panhandles) have since folded, all four cities currently have NFL franchises.

Racism has been a persistent problem in college football throughout its history. In 1892, William Heffelfinger became the first known African American player when he was paid $500 to play for Allegheny Athletic Association against another Pennsylvania club team, Pittsburgh Athletic Club. However, it would be almost 30 years before another African American player took the field: Fritz Pollard suited up for brown University in 1916. As was typical at that time, Pollard played both offense and defense; he also served as his team’s head coach. In1920, Pollard became co-head coach of Akron Pros—one of 14 teams that year competing in what would eventually become known asthe National Football League. He would go on to become oneof just two African Americans elected tothe College Football Halloffame (the other being Marvinibility Gross).

In 1934–35 during what became known as “the Poe brothers scandal”, it came to light that David Wallace Poe Jr., owner of then-potential new NFL franchise Detroit Lionshad hired racist head coach George E father Weissand conspired with other NFL owners tobarintegrationof African Americans into then-still segregatedleague. Sevensuspectedpoachers were suspended sothattheYouthmanufacturing Browns could aquire an,, all-white lineup for their inaugural 1946 season.” This eventinaugurated an almost 30-year period during which no black person played intheNFL.” It wasn’t until 1962 thatwe see Jimmy Harrisonthe fieldfor Los Angeles Rams – making him boththe last man standingofhis eraand first blackquarterbackto playa full gamefor anNFLteam.” From 1966 onward however things changeddrasticallyas large scale protests swept across thcountrye demanding racial Equality throughout all areasof public life under thenewly found bannerof “civil rights”. Colleges began integrating their student bodiesand football rosters soon followed suitwith SymrnaFLA becoming thfirst schoolto intentionally recruit black playersin 1967 mirroring theracial integration taking placeamong pro teamsas well.”

The NFL’s segregated history

The NFL was founded in 1920, just six years after the abolition of slavery in the United States. The league’s first president, Jim Thorpe, was a Native American. However, the league was quick to adopt many of the segregationist practices of the time. In its early years, the NFL only allowed white players to compete. This policy began to change in 1946 when Kenny Washington, a Black player, was signed by the Los Angeles Rams. However, it would be another 20 years before an African American player would again take to an NFL field.

In 1962, Marion Motley and Bill Willis were both inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. They were the first African American players to be so honored. Motley had been a stand-out player for the Cleveland Browns while Willis had been a key member of the All-American Football Conference’s (AAFC) championship team, the Cleveland Browns. Both men had overcome considerable racism in their careers.

It wasn’t until 1969 that another African American player would make an impact in the NFL. This time it was Doug Williams who became one of the league’s most successful quarterbacks with the Washington Redskins. Williams would go on to win two Super Bowls with the Redskins and is considered one of the best quarterbacks in NFL history.

Sadly, despite these milestones, racism has continued to rear its ugly head in the NFL. The most recent example came in 2017 when a group of Black players complained that they were being targeted by officials because of their skin color. The league is currently investigating these claims.

The NFL’s Current Diversity Problem

The NFL has long been considered a predominantly white sport. In recent years, however, the league has been making an effort to diversify its coaching staffs. As of 2020,African Americans make up only about 13 percent of all NFL coaches. This number is not only low, but it’s also a decrease from 22 percent in 2002. The lack of diversity among NFL coaches is a problem that the league needs to address.

The lack of black head coaches in the NFL

The NFL has been facing a lot of criticism in recent years for its lack of diversity among its head coaches. As of 2019, only four out of the 32 NFL teams have black head coaches. That means that just 12.5% of NFL teams are coached by black men.

This lack of diversity is especially striking when you compare it to the percentage of black players in the NFL, which is around 70%. So why are there so few black head coaches in the NFL?

There are a few possible explanations. One is that many black assistant coaches don’t get promoted to head coaching positions, because they’re seen as “too soft” or not leadership material. Another explanation is that some team owners may be reluctant to hire black coaches because they fear that they will be accused of racism if they fire them.

Whatever the reasons may be, it’s clear that the NFL has a diversity problem when it comes to its head coaches. And until this problem is addressed, the league will continue to face criticism.

The lack of black quarterbacks in the NFL

One of the most pressing issues in the NFL today is the lack of diversity among coaches, particularly at the quarterback position. Although black players have been a part of the league since its inception, they have always been greatly outnumbered by white players. In recent years, however, the number of black quarterbacks has been on the rise, and there is now a significant minority of black signal callers in the league. Unfortunately, this has not translated into more black coaches, and many believe that this is a major problem for the NFL.

There are currently only four black head coaches in the NFL, and two of those are interim coaches who may not keep their jobs after this season. That leaves only two black head coaches who are likely to return next season: Anthony Lynn of the Los Angeles Chargers and Hue Jackson of the Cleveland Browns. This is a far cry from where the league should be in terms of racial diversity, and it is something that needs to be addressed immediately.

Many believe that the lack of black coaches is due to a systematic bias against them. There are several theories as to why this might be the case, but one of the most commonly cited is that teams are simply more likely to hire white coaches because they fit into the “old boy’s club” mentality that still exists in many NFL front offices. Whatever the reason for this bias may be, it needs to be corrected if the NFL wants to truly promote racial equality.

The good news is that there are some encouraging signs on this front. For example, last offseason saw six new head coaches hired who were either black or Latino. This was a record number for minority hires, and it led many to believe that 2018 would be a breakout year for black coaches in particular. Unfortunately, that has not yet come to pass, but it is still possible that we could see more minority hires in future offseasons.

In conclusion, the lack of diversity among NFL coaches is a serious problem that needs to be addressed immediately. Although there have been some encouraging signs lately, much more needs to be done in order to promote equality in coaching ranks.

The Reasons for the Lack of Diversity in the NFL

It’s no secret that the NFL has a diversity problem. The league is made up of 70% black players, but only 2 of the 32 head coaches are black. Some people might say that the lack of diversity is because black coaches simply aren’t good enough. But that’s not the whole story. There are a number of reasons why there aren’t more black head coaches in the NFL.

Systemic racism in the NFL

In a league that is 70% Black, only four of the 32 head coaches are Black. In a league where over half of the players are Black, 25 of the 32 offensive coordinators are white. In a league where over half of the players are Black, 18 of the 32 defensive coordinators are white. These numbers are staggeringly disproportionate and highlight the lack of diversity among NFL coaching staffs.

There are a number of reasons for this lack of diversity among NFL coaches. First, NFL ownership is overwhelmingly white, with only three Black majority owners out of 32 teams. This lack of diversity at the ownership level filters down to the coaching ranks. Second, NFL front offices are overwhelmingly white, which contributes to the lack of diversity among coaches. Third, many NFL assistant coaches are hired through informal networks and referrals, which tend to be dominated by white coaches. Finally, there is a general belief Among NFL decision-makers that Black coaches are not as qualified as white coaches, which leads to fewer opportunities for Blacks to get hired as head coaches or coordinators.

This lack of diversity among NFL coaches is troubling for a number of reasons. First, it limits the perspective and experience that Black players can draw upon when seeking guidance from their coaches. Second, it hampers efforts to develop young Black coaching talent since they do not have role models or mentors to learn from within the NFL ranks. And finally, it continues to perpetuate the false notion that Blacks are not as qualified as whites when it comes to coaching in the NFL.

The NFL’s “Rooney Rule”

In order to address the issue of the lack of diversity among NFL coaches, the NFL implemented the “Rooney Rule” in 2003. The Rooney Rule requires teams to interview at least one minority candidate for head coaching and senior football operation jobs.

Despite the Rooney Rule, there has only been a small increase in the number of black head coaches in the NFL. In 2002, there were four black head coaches out of 32 teams (12.5%). In 2017, there were seven black head coaches out of 32 teams (21.9%). The percentage of black offensive and defensive coordinators has remained relatively static over the past 15 years as well. In 2002, there were three black offensive coordinators and two black defensive coordinators out of a total of 32 teams (9.4%). In 2017, there were six black offensive coordinators and five black defensive coordinators out of a total of 32 teams (15.6%).

There are a number of explanations for the lack of increase in the number of black head coaches and coordinators in the NFL despite the Rooney Rule. One explanation is that many assistant coaches are reluctant to interview for head coaching jobs because they believe they will not be given a fair chance to compete for the job. Another explanation is that some team owners are not committed to hiring minority candidates and view the Rooney Rule as a burden.

Despite these explanations, there has been some progress in recent years. In 2016, six out of eight new head coaches hired were minorities (75%). In 2017, five out of eight new head coaches hired were minorities (62.5%). These numbers suggest that slowly but surely, progress is being made in increasing the diversity among NFL coaches.

What Needs to be Done to Increase Diversity in the NFL

Only 4% of NFL coaches are black, despite the league being 70% black. This lack of diversity is a problem across all coaching ranks in the NFL. There are a number of ways to increase diversity among coaches, and the NFL has made some progress in recent years. But more needs to be done.

The NFL needs to hire more black coaches

Of the NFL’s 32 coaching staffs, only six head coaches are black. According to a report from The Undefeated, that number is down from eight in 2017 and nine in 2016. The league-wide trend is concerning to many observers, who argue that the league needs to do more to increase diversity among its coaching ranks.

There are currently only four black offensive coordinators and three black defensive coordinators in the NFL. These numbers are also down from recent years, and they suggest that there is a lack of opportunity for black coaches to advance into leadership positions.

The NFL has made some effort to address this issue, instituting the Rooney Rule in 2003. The rule requires teams to interview at least one minority candidate for open head coaching and senior operations positions. However, many critics argue that the rule has not been effective in increasing the number of black coaches in the NFL.

In order for the NFL to truly increase diversity among its coaching ranks, it needs to do more than just institute the Rooney Rule. The league should consider hiring quotas for black coaches, as well as giving preference to qualified minority candidates for open positions. Additionally, the NFL should provide support and resources to help minority coaches succeed at the highest level of the game. Only by taking these concrete steps will the league be able to increase diversity among its coaching staffs and create a more inclusive environment for all players and fans.

The NFL needs to promote more black quarterbacks

The NFL has a diversity problem. The league is made up of 70% black players, but only 2 of the 32 team head coaches are black. There are currently no black offensive coordinators in the NFL. These numbers are appalling, and something needs to be done to increase the representation of black coaches in the NFL.

One way to increase the number of black coaches in the NFL is to promote more black quarterbacks. Currently, there are only 7 starting black quarterbacks in the NFL out of 32 teams. This needs to be increased. Not only would this increase the number of black coaches in the NFL, but it would also give young black children someone to look up to who looks like them.

The Rooney Rule is a good start, but it is not enough. The Rooney Rule requires that all teams must interview at least one minority candidate for head coaching and senior operations vacancies, but it does not require that teams hire a minority candidate. The NFL needs to do more to increase the number of minorities in coaching positions.