Who Is The Only Black Head Coach In The NFL?

The only black head coach in the NFL right now is Anthony Lynn of the Los Angeles Chargers.

Introduction

currently, the only black head coach in the NFL is Anthony Lynn of the Los Angeles Chargers. He has been in his position since 2017. Prior to Lynn, there were four other black head coaches in NFL history: Hue Jackson, Dennis Green, Herman Edwards, and Tony Dungy.

NFL’s Only Black Head Coach

The National Football League currently has only one black head coach out of 32 teams. That lone coach is Anthony Lynn of the Los Angeles Chargers. The league has been sharply criticized in recent years for its lack of diversity among coaches and front office personnel.

Why There Are So Few Black Head Coaches

In the NFL, since the Rooney Rule went into effect in 2002, 14% of assistant coaches have been black, while only 6% of head coaches have been black. In MLB, 10% of assistant coaches are black, while only 3% of managers are black. In the NBA, 43% of assistant coaches are black, while 28% of head coaches are black.

The small number of African-American head coaches and general managers across all three professional sports leagues is often referred to as the “Rooney Rule” problem.

Named after Pittsburgh Steelers owner Dan Rooney, who proposed the rule while he was chairman of the NFL’s diversity committee, the Rooney Rule requires that teams interview at least one minority candidate for any open head coaching or general manager job.

The problem is that the Rooney Rule has not translated into a proportional increase in actual hires of African American coaches and GMs. In fact, in many ways, the percentage of minorities hired has actually decreased since the rule was put into place.

There are a number of explanations for why this might be the case. One is that the pool of qualified African American candidates is simply too small. Another is thatOwnerstend to hire people they know and trust – and those people are often white – which can create a self-perpetuating cycle.

Whatever the reason, the lack of diversity among NFL head coaches is a problem that needs to be addressed.

The Rooney Rule

In order to promote diversity, the NFL implemented the Rooney Rule in 2003. The rule requires that teams interview at least one person of color for any open head coaching or general manager position. In recent years, the league has added other measures to increase diversity, such as a league-wide commitment to develop coaching talent from within. Despite these efforts, there is currently only one black head coach in the NFL: Anthony Lynn of the Los Angeles Chargers.

The Future of Black Head Coaches in the NFL

In recent years, the National Football League (NFL) has made a concerted effort to increase the number of minority head coaches. In 2003, the “Rooney Rule” was put into place, mandating that teams interview at least one minority candidate for any open head coaching position.

Despite these efforts, there is still only one black head coach in the NFL: Anthony Lynn of the Los Angeles Chargers. In a league that is over 70% black, this lack of diversity is glaring. So what is the cause of this discrepancy?

There are a few possible explanations. One is that many talented black assistant coaches are being passed over for head coaching positions in favor of less qualified white candidates. Another possibility is that some team owners may be wary of hiring a black head coach because they perceive him as more likely to be fired than a white coach.

Whatever the reasons for the current situation, it is clear that something needs to be done to increase the number of black head coaches in the NFL. The league has made some progress in recent years, but there is still a long way to go.