(CNN) Black NFL head coaches regularly perform about as well as White NFL head coaches yet face significant hurdles to getting and keeping their jobs, according to a Washington Post analysis published Wednesday. Titled "How the NFL Blocks Black Coaches," the in-depth story examines the short history of Black NFL coaches, dating to when Art Shell was hired by the Los Angeles Raiders in 1989 as the first Black head coach in modern history. This season, there are three Black head coaches: Todd Bowles of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Lovie Smith of the Houston Texans and Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Post interviewed 16 of the 24 Black coaches and features three decades worth of data analysis, graphs, videos and more explaining the hurdles Black coaches face. Black coaches also "languish" as assistants and position coaches before becoming head coaches.

Source: Washington Post September 22, 2022 08:00 UTC