Reporter’s notebook – The numbers are dwindling
Each year as soon as the NFL regular season concludes, the firing season begins. And this year is no different.
The 2024 season began with a record six Black head coaches. Now a couple of weeks into 2025, the number has been reduced to four.
Jerod Mayo was the first to get canned after one season, fired by New England shortly after the Patriots closed its 4-13 season on a winning note January 3. Las Vegas followed suit a few days later and dismissed Antonio Pierce after one full season with the Raiders.
Mayo inherited a depleted roster, and earlier in the season got the dreaded vote of confidence from the team owner. This often turns into a kiss of death for the coach, and it proven true sadly once again.
The Raiders also struggled with Pierce, but the team weren’t expected to make the Super Bowl this season as well.
Both former coaches, in my opinion, should have received at least a second season to see if things could turn around. Instead, the two men are unwilling passengers on the NFL coaching carousel that far too often just goes round and round when it comes to Black coaches getting another NFL head coaching opportunity but makes regular stops for their White counterparts.
Cue the music – Going in Circles by The Friends of Distinction.
Once again we see in real time that the lifeline for Black coaches, except in few instances, remains short and tentative as they are saddled with the task of being miracle workers and magicians in turning bad talent into solid competitive ones.
In Looney Tunes, Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck go back and forth on what season it is while Elmer Fudd waits – is it rabbit season or duck season.
But in reality, we all know what season it is – coaches’ firing season and Black coaches too often are in the crosshairs.