Baltimore Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton expressed concern regarding the recent firings of two of the NFL’s three Black first-time head coaches, Jerod Mayo from the New England Patriots and Antonio Pierce from the Las Vegas Raiders. Hamilton remarked, “I don’t want to make it a bigger thing than it is, but at the same time, yeah, it is tough to see coaches who are minorities and earned that job, and respected retired athletes, as well — obviously sad to see those guys go. Black coaches may have a shorter leash.”

In a survey conducted over the past seven months involving more than 90% of the 65-plus Black players in the NFL, there was encouragement about the increase in Black head coaches from four to seven last offseason. However, with the firings of Mayo and Pierce, coupled with the hiring of Aaron Glenn by the New York Jets, the count has dropped back to six while awaiting a decision from the New Orleans Saints on their vacant position.

Players highlighted a prevailing notion that Black coaches are under immense pressure to achieve immediate success; they often feel that their opportunities are limited. Chargers linebacker Chris Rumph poignantly stated, “Sometimes they put them in positions where they don’t give them time.” This sentiment further amplifies the existing strain associated with coaching positions.

Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Cam Heyward, who has spent his entire career under head coach Mike Tomlin, questioned whether Black coaches are afforded the same opportunity to develop a program. He articulated, “As they get hired, do they have the leeway to turn a program around? Rather than starting brand new and saying, ‘You’ve got a year, that’s the end of it?’” Heyward remarked on the disappointing reality of seeing coaches dismissed before they could fully realize their potential.

Research indicates that since 2000, a striking 42% of head coaches who were let go following their first full season have been Black. To date, only 18% of new NFL head coaches have been Black out of 173 hired during the same period.

Receiver Terry McLaurin from the Washington Commanders tried to maintain an optimistic outlook regarding the qualifications of Black head coaches, stating, “I like to try to think optimistically and think that if a Black head coach either doesn’t get the opportunity or gets fired, it’s because he wasn’t as qualified as the next candidate or he just didn’t get the job done — versus the color of his skin being relevant.” Despite this, he acknowledged that Black coaching candidates sometimes need to prove their merit more vigorously to secure job positions or maintain their roles.

Ravens offensive lineman Ronnie Stanley, who has spent nine years in professional football, echoed these sentiments, noting the scarcity of coaching roles and the trend of brief tenures for Black coaches. He said, “It makes 100% sense that Black coaches who get a chance to run a club in the pros would find themselves feeling on the spot.” He stressed the need for organizational support for these coaches in a role that already carries substantial pressures.

Further discussions among players brought up the necessity for better representation among coaches compared to the predominantly Black athlete population, which stands at over 50%. McLaurin stated, “I don’t think the color of your skin dictates how good of a coach you are. But it would be naïve to think that a Black coach wouldn’t understand some things about another Black person that the best white head coaches would never understand.” While the direct correlation between cultural understanding and wins could be debated, McLaurin emphasized the importance of having coaches who can bond with players beyond just the game.

Brandon Brown, director of The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport (TIDES), underscored the significance of representation, acknowledging how it resonates with NFL players. He remarked, “Wanting to interact with like-minded people is fair for any walk of life. That just goes with any part of society.” Brown affirmed that players have a legitimate right to seek greater representation within their profession.