Thanks to a drive in the NFL to leave no stone unturned in its search for qualified head coaching candidates, minority coaches are becoming increasingly prevalent. Specifically the Rooney Rule, which mandates diversity in the pool of candidates for a head coaching vacancy, has led to a record number of African-American head coaches in the league. With Chicago Bear headman Lovie Smith winning NFL Coach of the Year, minority coaches are showing they are as deserving and can be as successful as any other qualified coach. In fact, Smith and Indianapolis Colts coach Tony Dungy remain in the hunt for a Super Bowl ring.
The scope of the NFL’s search for competent coaches can be seen in the Tennessee Titans hire of offensive coordinator Norm Chow. Chow, a career college coach, moved up from collegiate offensive coordinator, becoming the league’s first Asian-American coordinator. All of that said, the Kansas City Chiefs courtship of Herman Edwards was particularly bad for minority coaches. Though in this case, the term minority more accurately represents those who do not have a personal relationship with Chiefs general manager Carl Peterson. Edwards and Peterson have known each other for a long time. In 1990 Peterson hired Edwards to be a scout for the Chiefs. This was Edwards’ first personnel job in the NFL. Peterson also was partly responsible for Edwards playing career in Philadelphia. He signed the undrafted rookie to a free agent contract. How did he know about Edwards? Oh yeah, he recruited Edwards out of high school. Though Edwards would sign elsewhere, the two remained aware of each other. Their relationship in itself is enough to make Stevie Wonder see how Edwards was at the top of Chiefs coaching wish list, but this story does not end here. Who was the coach of Edwards’ first pro team and the college coach for who Peterson worked? None other than recently retired Chiefs coach Dick Vermeil.
After the 2000-01 season, the three acquaintances found themselves closely associated with each other once again. Before Peterson hired Vermeil as head coach, he interviewed Edwards. Though Peterson chose the coach he knew longer, he recommended Edwards to former Chiefs employee and Jets general manager Terry Bradway. Three weeks after Vermeil got the Chiefs job, Edwards became the Jets head coach. Their relationship explains Vermeil’s apparent love for Edwards. He is a very big fan, even going as far as saying that the coach of the 4-12 Jets should have been NFL Coach of the Year. Edwards and Vermeil are probably closer than Edwards and Peterson are. Edwards gives his compassionate predecessor credit for influencing his coaching style and over the years Vermeil has regularly consulted Edwards on his many career decisions. So it is no surprise that Vermeil was the one who officially let the cat out of the bag. After months of rumors that had Edwards taking over for a retired Vermeil, Vermeil stated that he hope Edwards would succeed him as Chiefs head coach.
One might say that the Peterson, Vermeil, Edwards triumvirate is what any business is based on, that being relationships. Yet it is these relationships in which the NFL’s Rooney Rule seeks to take the bite out of. These relationships have kept non-whites from getting head coaching jobs for years. Peterson’s coaching search does not violate the terms of the Rooney Rule, but it violates it spirit. By no means is Edwards not qualified to be the Chiefs head coach. He is one of the most qualified candidates, especially when considering that Peterson is perceived as wanting a defensive mind. But, if Peterson was interested in going defensive with his next hire, why were the other coaches he interviewed the team’s offensive coordinator Al Saunders and the Baltimore Ravens offensive minded assistant Jim Fassel. There was no mention of defensive coordinators Tim Lewis, Ron Rivera, or Jim Bates among others. Saunders’ and Fassel’s interviews more or less served the same purpose as any interview Art Shell has been on during the last three years. Peterson already had his man and anyone looking at the triumvirate’s resumes would have realized it.
Understand one thing. Peterson, Vermeil, and Edwards are not villains. They are more or less illustrating how much relationships mean in the hiring process. The NFL has encouraged teams to look beyond these established relationships and as a result minority coaches have benefited. The Chiefs coaching search, though it ended with the hiring of a minority, was not necessarily good for minorities. Anyone who disagrees with this statement, please feel the same way if and when Peterson recommends another one of his acquaintances (Saunders) to his old friend (Bradway). The buddy system, much like the good ole boy system, only benefits those who are in the loop.
8 replies on “Edwards’ Situation Not a Good Message For Minority Coaches”
Good article I fixed some grammatical problems.
Nice piece, but… A good piece with excellent ideas and research, but I am tired of the insistence in diversity in hiring. The NFL cannot and should not bow down to Affirmative Action like colleges (academia and athletic) and many workplaces. The best coaches should be hired, regardless of race, as they always have been. Skin color should not be involved. As a Jew, can I consider myself a “minority” too? That word is a made up word by those who like to make everything about race.
What if there were a White Coaches Association who wanted more white coaches/managers in minor league baseball or college basketball? Give me a break.
AJ Your argument is a common one, but unfortunately one has to admit that racism exists and that as much as you want to disparage people who make it “all about race”, it is impossible to dismiss it entirely.
The Rooney Rule is not ideal but it is a good step towards breaking up the “old boy network” that results in coaches like Rich Kotite, Jim Haslett, Mike Tice, Norv Turner, etc. constantly getting hired for NFL jobs. Racial considerations aside, the breaking up of cronyism is a big step forward for a meritocratic attitude in hiring the best person for the job regardless of race.
Still, you cannot say that racism doesn’t exist, or that we should be a “color blind” society; you can’t fight ignorance with more ignorance.
well… I somewhat agree. Denny Green could fit right into the old boys network, but yes, those other guys should not keep getting recycled. When Herm fails in KC and then gets rehired, or if Dungy had failed in Indy and went elsewhere, he could be part of the network, too. It has NOTHING to do with race, and while Lovie Smith and Marvin Lewis are excellent coaches, I don’t think Lovie deserved coach of the year over Marvin, Dungy, Shanahan, Fox, Del Rio, Holmgren or even Gibbs.
2 cents Nice comments, but tt took until 1988 for a black to get a head coaching job in the NFL. Because of the legacy of discrimination, race will continue to be an issue for the foreseeable future. One thing for certain, black coaches have proven themselves to be every bit as qualified as others. All they ever needed was the opportunity.
Regarding Green, he has only had two coaching jobs so he hardly qualifies for the old boys network. Actually, to qualify for the network, you have to be a mediocre coach that continues to get jobs. Great coaches, like Parcells for example, have earned the right to be offered jobs, and to pursue any opportunity presented to them.
And Lovies coached the Bears to biggest turnaround of all the coaches mentioned. He deserves it.
As for Herm, I think its a sign of progress when a black coach can be coveted like he was. His situation in NY had always been tenuous anyway. The Jets could have sweetened the pot for him but they didn’t, so he did what was in his best interest. Though I’m a NY jet/giant fan, I’m not mad at him.
WDwilson? Is that Woodrow Wilson?
There has never been a hispanic, asian, indian or Jewish coach in the NFL. Is anyone outraged about that? Of course not. This “victicrat” garbage is absurd. Hire the best people for the job, in any walk of life. If the NFL was 100% black coaches, do you think the “good ol’ boys” would complain? I doubt it.
the good ol’ boys would still be GM and owners.
“I’m not talking about being rich. I’m talking about being wealthy.”
Understand one thing… It is not about whether or not racism exists. Remember, one of the coaches not mentioned for the Kansas City job was Tim Lewis. The bottom line is (similar to other situations) people have their own preferences when hiring somebody. Can someone’s preferences include a certain race? Sure it can. It probably has happened countless of times. Still race is in line with age, experience, family, friendships etc. With the number of African-American players and assistant coaches that have gone through the league, one would not be wrong for thinking that there should be more African-American head coaches. Though before screaming bloody murder, look at the relationship between those potential candidates and the people who are doing the hiring. Herman Edwards was in good standing with the “right” people. Often that is the most important thing, no matter what color a person is.