Last week, Brian Flores’ scathing lawsuit against the NFL received some much-deserved support.
Former Arizona Cardinals head coach Steve Wilks, and former Tennessee Titans defensive coordinator Ray Horton, added their names to Flores’ federal lawsuit which accused the NFL, and its 32 teams, of discrimination against African Americans in their hiring practices.
Wilks was hired in 2018 by the Cardinals and handed quarterback Josh Rosen. Needless to say, the team fared poorly (3-13) and Wilks was fired at the end of the season.
As is the norm, the team then drafted a franchise quarterback in 2019 (Kyler Murray) and then gave both the reins and the proper time to build a team to a new (white) coach (Kliff Kingsbury). Arizona also traded for Deandre Hopkins, a move that also contributed to their success.
Those moves are luxuries seldom granted to Black head coaches.
We saw it with Anthony Lynn, David Culley and Brian Flores.
Lynn finally got Justin Herbert. A year later, he was fired.
Bill O’Brien’s decision to trade Hopkins severely hampered first-year head coach David Culley in 2021.
Brian Flores posted two back to back winning seasons, was fired, and then the team made moves to acquire Tyreek Hill.
It always feels like once Black head coaches guide their teams through the fire and right the ship, they’re relieved of their duties.
And many times they’re replaced by white coaches despite their success.
Continue reading over at First and Pen.
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