As another NFL off-season for many teams has begun in earnest the search for to fill vacancies for GMs and Coaches has started. Teams are interviewing and starting to hire candidates for jobs and the usual chatter about the lack of diversity in NFL coaching and management ranks has already been bubbling up on social media and on national media outlets.
There are a few black men that are going to say in this off-seasons festivities so instead of having the same circular arguments about why more brothers aren’t getting hired. We are changing the narrative and are going to list black men that are in the mix.
- Cleveland Browns General Manager – Andrew Berry
Berry will be making the decision on whether or not Cleveland will be re-signing Browns QB Baker Mayfield which could have a great impact in the Quarterback free agency market and reset the expectations for the Browns depending on who they would acquire in place of Mayfield.
2. Jason Wright – Washington Football Team – Rebrand
The Washington Football Team retired their old name in the summer of 2020. The last year and a half the team has undergone an exhaustive process to come up with a name, and design logos, and uniforms to relaunch an iconic NFL brand that’s been almost 90 years. Wright came into the organization when it had troubles due to sexual harassment accusations, and the result of decades of bad behavior. Wright has had to rebuild the administration of this organization from the ground up, and under the circumstances he is the most competent face of management the Football Team has had in decades.
3. Chris Grier – Miami Dolphins General Manager
Grier will be heavily involved in the hiring of the new Dolphins head coach, and he has a decision to make on the future of Tua Tungavaloa who has had a shaky first two years at best at Quarterback. Tua’s lack of growth over the past two seasons was a large part of the rift Grier had with Miami’s last head coach Brian Flores. Whomever Miami hires will have to be on the same page so the growth of the Dolphins as a franchise can continue going in the right direction and build on two winning seasons in a row.
4. Byron Leftwich – Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Offensive Coordinator
With lots of Head Coach openings around the league Byron Leftwich who was Tom Brady’s Offensive Coordinator in Tampa is now in line and being talked about as a lead candidate for Jacksonville’s head position. Leftwich who played in the NFL for Jacksonville as their starting QB could be key in helping to build up Trevor Lawrence after a rough rookie season under Urban Meyer.
5. Brian Flores – Former Coach of Miami Dolphins
Flores was fired because of his abrasive demeanor and not getting along with GM Chris Grier or his QB Tua Tungavolia. Flores had rebuilt the Dolphins back to consecutive winning seasons for the first time in a very long time. Despite the way things ended in Miami his name will be spoken in many front offices as a Head Coaching Candidate around the league this off season.
6. Kwesi Adofo-Mensah – General Manager of Minnesota Vikings
Adofo Mensah worked in Cleveland with Andrew Berry since 2020 as the Browns Vice President of Football Operations. The new GM is an expert in analytics and will bring much of that skill set to Minnesota. One big decision he will be making will whether or not to retain Kirk Cousins and at what price.
7. Robert F. Smith – Black Billionaire from the Denver Metropolitan area that could be make a bid to buy the Denver Broncos, which would make him the first Black majority owner in the NFL.
Honorable Mentions –
Eric Bieniemy – Kansas City Chiefs Offensive Coordinator – Head Coach Candidate
Todd Bowles – Tampa Bay Buccaneers Defensive Coordinator – Head Coach Candidate
Raheem Morris – Los Angeles Rams – Defensive Coordinator – Head Coach Candidate
DeMeco Ryans – San Francisco 49ers – Defensive Coordinator – Head Coach Candidate
Senior Editor, Digital Manager, Blogger, has been nominated for awards several times as Publisher and Author over the years. Has been with company for almost three years and is a current native St. Louisan.
