Honestly, if you look at the sidelines on any given Sunday, the math just feels broken. You see a league where the vast majority of players—we’re talking well over 50%—are Black, yet the head coaching ranks often look like a completely different world. It’s a disconnect that has sparked lawsuits, rule changes, and endless talk radio debates. But where do we actually stand with African American coaches in the NFL right now?
The truth is a bit of a rollercoaster. Just this morning, news broke that Mike Tomlin is moving on from the Pittsburgh Steelers after 19 seasons. Think about that. Nineteen years. He never had a losing season until the very end, and he’s arguably the most successful Black coach in the history of the sport. His departure feels like the end of an era, leaving a massive void in the league's leadership landscape.
The current state of the sidelines
As we head into the 2026 hiring cycle, the numbers are, frankly, underwhelming. We started 2024 with seven Black head coaches. Then, the "Black Monday" ax fell. Antonio Pierce and Jerod Mayo were out in January 2025. It’s that old "last hired, first fired" trope that players and analysts have been screaming about for decades.
Right now, the heavy hitters remaining are names you know:
- Todd Bowles (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
- DeMeco Ryans (Houston Texans)
- Raheem Morris (Atlanta Falcons)
And then you have the new blood, like Aaron Glenn, who finally got his shot with the Jets. But when you look at the total—roughly five or six out of 32—it’s clear the "glass ceiling" C.J. Goodwin talked about hasn't been shattered. It’s barely been cracked.
What the Rooney Rule gets wrong (and right)
We have to talk about the Rooney Rule. Named after Dan Rooney, the legendary Steelers owner, it was supposed to be the "Great Equalizer." The idea was simple: you have to interview at least one (now two) minority candidates for every head coaching vacancy.
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But here’s the problem: you can’t mandate sincerity.
Former Dolphins coach Brian Flores basically blew the whistle on this a few years ago. He alleged "sham interviews"—basically being brought in just so a team could check a box while they already had their white candidate picked out. It’s a cynical way to run a multi-billion dollar business. While the league has expanded the rule to include offensive coordinators and even QB coaches, the results are lagging.
Why does the QB coach matter? Because that’s the pipeline. Owners are obsessed with "offensive gurus" and "quarterback whisperers." If Black coaches aren't getting those entry-level roles, they're never going to be in the room when the big jobs open up.
The "Double Standard" is real
There is a nagging statistic that’s hard to ignore. Between 2000 and 2024, about 42% of coaches fired after just one season were Black. Compare that to the fact that only 18% of new hires in that span were Black.
Basically, you have a shorter leash. If a white coach fails in his first year, he often gets a "rebuilding" pass. If a Black coach fails, it’s often "see, it didn't work." This isn't just a vibe; it's backed by the numbers compiled by groups like TIDES (The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport).
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The pioneers who paved the way
We can't talk about today without mentioning Fritz Pollard. Back in 1921—literally over a hundred years ago—he was the first. Then, the league basically went into a decades-long hibernation regarding diversity. It took until 1989 for Art Shell to get the nod with the Raiders.
Then came the legends:
- Tony Dungy: The first African American coach to win a Super Bowl. He didn't just win; he changed the culture with his "Quiet Strength" approach.
- Dennis Green: He turned the Vikings into a perennial powerhouse.
- Marvin Lewis: He spent 16 years in Cincinnati, taking a "Bungals" franchise and making them respectable.
These guys proved that the "not cerebral enough" narrative was total garbage. They won at the highest levels, often with less institutional support than their peers.
Why representation actually matters
When players see someone who looks like them leading the meeting room, it changes the dynamic. It's not just about "fairness." It's about perspective. Guys like DeMeco Ryans in Houston are successful because they speak the language of the modern player. They've been in the locker room. They understand the nuances of the grind.
But it’s also about the "coaching tree." If you look at the big names like Kyle Shanahan or Sean McVay, their "trees" are full of young, white coaches who get fast-tracked. Until those trees start to diversify, the cycle just repeats itself.
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The 2026 hiring cycle: Who is next?
The league is at a crossroads. With Mike Tomlin’s exit, the pressure is on the owners to do more than just "comply" with a rule. There are incredibly qualified candidates waiting in the wings.
Keep an eye on Ejiro Evero. He’s 44, has coached every phase of the game—offense, defense, and special teams—and is widely considered one of the sharpest minds in the league. If he doesn't have a head coaching job by the end of this cycle, something is seriously wrong.
Practical steps for fans and the league
If you want to see the needle move, it takes more than just a hashtag.
- Hold owners accountable: Teams like the Cowboys, Giants, and Saints have never hired a full-time Black head coach. That’s a choice, not an accident.
- Look at the coordinators: The next head coaches are currently offensive and defensive coordinators. Support the promotion of diverse talent at these "gateway" positions.
- Focus on the QB room: As long as the "offensive genius" is the archetype for a head coach, Black coaches need to be given the keys to the passing game early in their careers.
The NFL likes to say "Football is Family." But until the leadership looks like the family on the field, that’s just a slogan. It’s time for the hiring practices to catch up to the talent.
Next Steps for Readers:
- Track the 2026 hiring cycle results to see if the percentage of African American coaches in the NFL increases.
- Research the "Rooney Rule" updates specifically regarding the 2025-2026 incentives for developing minority talent.
- Support organizations like the Fritz Pollard Alliance that advocate for hiring equity in professional sports.