A Black coach was fired at the start of 2021. However as a substitute of the crew with the Offensive Rookie of the Yr hiring the most well liked offensive coordinator within the league, who was Black, they selected a white coach. After two and a half seasons, that white coach was fired as a result of he was worse than the Black coach who preceded him. That is the story of the Los Angeles Chargers. That is additionally the plight of Black coaches within the NFL.
With the latest firing of Brandon Staley in Los Angeles, it means the Chargers cleaned home weeks earlier than Black Monday. It additionally means we’re getting near that time of the season by which the shortage of range amongst head coaches within the league turns into an enormous speaking level, once more, because the annual custom of overlooking overqualified Black candidates for underwhelming white ones that homeowners and media members “believe in,” will quickly begin.
There’s a purpose Brian Flores’ racial discrimination against the league for its hiring practices is proceeding to trial.
There’s additionally a purpose so many individuals on social media, TV and on the water cooler (in-person and remotely), shall be upset that race is being mentioned, as they really feel that anybody who brings up the subject is a “race-baiter.”
That crowd will say that the perfect particular person for the job ought to be employed, no matter shade. Nevertheless, that crowd refuses to grasp that it doesn’t work like that. As a result of if it did, they’d see the difficulty with a predominately Black league solely having two everlasting head coaches who determine as Black — which is one more than it had in 1921.
The comedy in all of that is that Staley was fired throughout the NFL’s “Inspire Change” weeks, the a part of the calendar when the league acts prefer it cares about social and racial points whereas ignoring that they’re one of many largest contributors to it.
To know simply how a lot the sport is rigged, simply learn the phrases of the lads who participate in it.
“As we all know, this is a results-driven business and, simply put, the results of the past two years have fallen short of expectations,” is what Chargers owner Dean Spanos said in 2021 after firing Anthony Lynn — the franchise’s first, and solely, Black head coach. “Moving forward, we will redouble our efforts to both build and maintain a championship-caliber program. We have been innovative in many facets of our organization in recent years, and we need to carry that over to our entire operation. Our fans need to know that the Los Angeles Chargers are committed to consistent, winning football. The search for a new head coach will begin immediately.”
Lynn was 33-31 within the regular-season document and 1-1 within the playoffs. Los Angeles went 7-9 in his final season and misplaced seven video games by one rating. He gained the final 4 video games of the season.
“We are clearly not where we expect to be, however, and we need new vision,” said Spanos when he fired Staley final Friday.
It was a 180 from what was mentioned when Staley was employed.
“It doesn’t matter if you’ve known Brandon for five minutes or five years. What quickly becomes apparent is the amount of energy and passion he approaches each and every moment with,” wrote Chargers’ president of soccer operations John Spanos, Dean’s son, in a statement at the time. “The consistency of that enthusiasm is unique and, most importantly, it drives his ability to connect with people.”
Underneath Staley, Los Angeles was the definition of common (24-24.) Their sole postseason look throughout his tenure got here final season when the Chargers blew a 27-point result in Jacksonville — the third-largest comeback in playoff historical past
When the Chargers have been seeking to exchange Lynn they introduced in six candidates — 5 of them have been white. Brian Daboll, Jason Garrett, Joe Brady, Matt Eberflus, and Staley have been a part of that group. Eric Bieniemy was the lone minority candidate, serving for instance of how groups skirt the Rooney Rule.
Now, we wait to see who the Spanos household will choose as their subsequent head coach. However, earlier than we glance to the longer term, we should take note of the previous.
The ultimate straw that led to Staley getting fired was when the Chargers misplaced, 63-21, to the Raiders on Thursday Night time Soccer, simply 4 days after Las Vegas didn’t rating a single level of their 3-0 dwelling loss to the Vikings. The interim coach of the Raiders is Antonio Pierce, who’s Black. Pierce is in cost after the Raiders fired their white head coach halfway by the season, similar to the Chargers did.
