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The NFL Is Under A Black Head Coach After Promises To Do Better With Diversity – Henry Club

January 14, 2022
Bharat Times English News

“I came to this difficult but necessary decision after reviewing our football operation. While a change after one season is unusual, we had philosophical differences over the long-term direction and vision to move our program forward.

that, in a 32-team league where a Most players are colored, focuses on the NFL’s six current head coaching vacancies, given that the league has been around for years. under public pressure To increase diversity in your leadership position.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell himself criticized last year’s hiring round, when two minority coaches, Cooley and Saleh, were hired out of seven openings. goodell said last year That “is not what we expect going forward.”
“We want to diversify our NFL clubs,” Goodell said in February“The head coach is important. We hired two minority coaches, but it was not what we expected. ,
The porter’s firing comes two days after another top NFL official — executive vice president of football operations Troy Vincent — told the Washington Post NFL or collegiate teams see a double standard when it comes to firing Black coaches after short tenures or winning seasons.
Vincent, who is Black, mentored Tony Dungy, who was hired by the Buccaneers after the 2001 season in a . was fired with 54–42 regular-season record In six seasons, including winning the season in his final three years. He also mentioned Jim Caldwell, who was let go by the Lions in 2017. three winning seasons in four years — which was for a club Only one victorious campaign in the last 13 years,
Vincent also mentioned Steve Wilkes, who was sacked by the Cardinals a few years ago. a season, albeit with a record of 3-13.

“There’s a double standard,” Vincent told the Post. “I don’t think it’s something we should be ashamed of. But it’s part of something that we need to fix in the system.

“We want to tell everyone that to be able to take the benefit of the doubt or take the benefit of the doubt in this process of commissioning a franchise, when others are not afforded that latitude? .. we do it at the collegiate level. Let’s see. And we’ve seen it in history on a (professional) level.”

In addition to the Texans and Dolphins, the teams with current head coaching vacancies are the Bears, Broncos, Giants and Vikings.

Rooney Rule aims to promote candidate diversity

The NFL has said it has tried to diversify the ranks of its head coaches after years of criticism.

In 2003, the league adopted the Rooney Rule, which required teams to interview at least one “miscellaneous” candidate for head coaching vacancies. In 2009, the Rooney Rule was expanded to include general manager jobs and equivalent front office positions. league in 2020 expanded the rule Additional interview required.
and later that year, the NFL passed a resolution Which would reward teams choosing additional drafts to develop minority coaches.

According to the institute, Porter and Flores were two of five black head coaches hired full-time in the past five years. The others were Anthony Lynn (Chargers, 2017-2020); Vance Joseph (Broncos, 2017-2018); and Wilkes (Cardinals, 2018).

Six others were hired full-time since 2010: Hugh Jackson (Raiders, 2011, and Brown, 2016-2018); Leslie Frazier (Vikings, 2011-2013); Romeo Cranell (chief, 2012–2013, after coaching Brown a decade earlier); Lavi Smith (Buccaneers, 2014-2016, after coaching the Bears); Caldwell (Lions 2014–2017, after coaching the Colts); and Todd Bowles (Jets, 2015–2018).

Of the league’s players this season, 58% were black and about 10% identified with two or more races, while 25% were white. Institution,

Porter says he ‘loved every minute’

66-year-old porter was in his first head coaching job, has spent more than 27 years as an NFL assistant and more than 16 years as a collegiate assistant. He was hired last year from the Baltimore Ravens, where he spent two years as assistant head coach, passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach.

Bud’s job at a Texan job seemed like an arduous journey ever since he was hired.

Watson requested a trade from the team before Porter was hired, and star defensive lineman and organization column JJ Watt was released a few weeks later.

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But despite the turmoil in the team, Cooley managed to rally his players and the Texans were playing above his station.

“We applaud Coach Porter for helping us navigate a difficult season, but I have a responsibility to make the best decisions for my organization,” said Casario. “The search for the next Houston Texans coach will begin immediately.”

In a statement announcing his firing, Cooley said he “loved every minute” of being the head coach of the Texans.

“I appreciate the players and coaches for being with me through the ups and downs of my season,” he said,

“I’m disappointed that we didn’t win more games and I won’t get a chance to improve on the lessons learned, but I fully understand that this is a low-end business and I didn’t do enough. I give it to me.” “I want to thank the McNair family and Nick Casario for giving me the opportunity, I am forever grateful for the experience.

“I wish this team and organization the best of luck in producing a special event and I truly believe the future is bright for Texans fans.”

Cooley is the sixth head coach to be fired after the conclusion of the 2021 season, when Flores was fired from the Dolphins, Mike Zimmer from the Minnesota Dolphins, Vic Fangio from the Denver Broncos, Joe Judge and Matt Nagy from the New York Giants. , Chicago Bear.

CNN’s Leah Asmlesh contributed to this report.