• Featured |
  • Burton DeWitt
  • Vin Diec
  • Trevor Freeman
  • Diane M. Grassi
  • Gabe Kahn
  • Ryan McGowan
  • Kris Pollina
  • Matt Waters
  • Ray Yocke
  • -----------
  • Write for SC
  • Get Featured
  • Nominate
• blog |
• Journals

• NFL
• NBA
• MLB
• NHL
• College
• Other

• forums + |
  • Chat Room
  • Message Boards
  • Philly Message Boards
  • Photo Pool
• Submit |
• Help

Edwards' Situation Not a Good Message For Minority Coaches

By James Butler, Section NFL
Posted on Mon Jan 09 2006 at 10:27 PM EST
More on: (all tags)

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.  

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.