Davante Adams, an All-Pro wide receiver, was asked about the significance of the step for African Americans everywhere.It’s just something normal; that’s the ultimate goal,said the former Packer.
The more we can normalize this and, at the very least, level the playing field, the better.
The rest of the Raiders’ two-win season under Pierce and Kelly against two crumbling New York teams will be interesting to watch.
The elephant in the room is that the interim coach has frequently been an African-American coach over the last decade. And almost every time, regardless of whether they were successful or not, the team that brought them to the top was not interested in hiring them full-time.
Steve Wilks is a prime example of a Black interim coach who revitalized the Panthers’ locker room after Matt Rhule was fired in the 2022 season.
Carolina was 1-4 at the time of the shootout, and Wilks guided his diverse group of players to a 6-6 tie the rest of the way. The players discussed Wilks and his immediate impact in the locker room.
Several fans have already requested that the temporary tag be removed. Unfortunately, the franchise, like many others before them, turned a blind eye and let Wilks go.
Former Colts coach Frank Reich. The Panthers finished 1-8 in Reich’s first season, the worst record in the league when it comes to watching home games.
When we look beyond the interim coaches, we find even more troubling statistics.
There have been over 500 head coaches in NFL history. It should be noted that within the 32 teams, diversity is gradually making its way into leadership positions.
The Rooney Rule does not always work as intended, and there is still a lot of room for improvement in this area, but DeMeco Ryans’ success with the Texans in 2023 should help spur further progress. There’s also Antonio Pierce.
Rich Bisaccia was named interim head coach of the Raiders in 2021 after the special teams coach led the Silver and Black to an unexpected playoff berth.
When the team was still based in Los Angeles, they hired the first full-time Black coach in modern NFL history.
The Raiders, to their credit, were ahead of the curve in this regard.
When the franchise was still in Los Angeles, they hired the first full-time black head coach in modern NFL history.
From 1989 to 1994 (and again in 2006), Hall of Famer Art Shell was the locker room’s leading voice.
Shell served as interim head coach before accepting the position full-time.
Pierce still has a long way to go before being released from the temporary tag, but his intensity and ability to connect with players is something that any team would welcome.
The decision is expected within two months. Pierce (and Kelly) will have a fantastic audition with the rest of the cast of 2023.
Let’s hope Davis is serious about giving Pierce a fighting chance. Especially in a league with a large number of African-American players.
If a man is willing to risk his life as a player, why isn’t he given the same respect as a coach? This is the question that must be addressed.
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