The NFL’s Black coaches are turning Wild-Card Weekend into a diversity showcase

There’s one storyline the NFL hasn’t highlighted heading into the postseason, and that’s probably for legal reasons. At least, I can’t imagine the league’s attorneys would advise them to showcase its entire roster of Black head coaches making the playoffs, considering Brian Flores’ lawsuit is still pending.

In case you missed it, and team owners certainly hope you did, all four of the league’s Black head coaches will be on the sidelines this weekend. DeMeco Ryans, Mike Tomlin, Todd Bowles and Mike McDaniel — that’s it, that’s the entire group — make up an eighth of the NFL’s total head coaches, but nearly a third of its playoff skippers. (McDaniel identifies as multiracial, but I’m not stepping on that landmine again, so he’s Black at least for this column.)

Look at the jobs these coaches did this year and it’s impossible to understand the NFL’s obsession with retreads. Each of their franchises dealt with adversity, and held it together better than 20 other teams.

Tomlin continued his streak of above .500 football despite a QB room full of backups. Pittsburgh quarterbacks combined for 13 touchdown passes to nine interceptions. The Steelers dealt with injuries, disgruntled quarterbacks, fans, players and former players. Still won 10 games.

Ryans is a strong candidate for Coach of the Year, making the playoffs in his first year on the job with a Rookie (of the Year) quarterback. The Texans even lost CJ Stroud amid a battle for the AFC South and split two games with backup Case Keenum. Oh, by the way, Ryan is technically a defensive coach. Funny how it is possible to be both defensive-minded and capable enough to oversee QB development, eh, Matt Eberflus?

People have serious reservations about the Dolphins’ legitimacy, yet McDaniel has Miami in the playoffs in consecutive seasons, something the organization hasn’t done since 2001. They face the defending Super Bowl champs in Kansas City on Saturday, as well as the elements, because of a late-season skid. I just want to point out that the Fins possess the superior rushing attack and the general public is fading the bejesus out of Miami in the cold weather.

All Bowles did was replace Tom Brady with Baker Mayfield, win the division (again), as well as one more game than last year. The Bucs faced a must-win Week 17 matchup for the NFC South and shutout Carolina. It’s also worth noting that multiple teams gave up on Mayfield, who threw for 4,000-plus yards, 28 TDs and 10 picks.

There are currently eight head coach vacancies in the NFL, with the potential for a couple more if Dallas and Philadelphia self-combust spectacularly this weekend. (Note how I didn’t include Miami, Tampa Bay, Pittsburgh or Houston in there.) So nearly a third of the league may be in the market for a head coach.

If my team’s owner, say, David Tepper, had requested an interview with Dallas DC and noted choke artist Dan Quinn, I would make it my life goal to track down Tepper and throw half a glass of Red Bull and vodka in his stupid face. The Las Vegas Raiders feel determined to overlook how quickly interim HC Antonio Pierce turned the team from disorganized losers into semi-competent professionals.

There aren’t many rants about the shield’s lack of diversity that haven’t already been penned, and I know I’m repeating myself, but the technology to incept people is still only fictional. Until then, the courses of action are two-fold, with varying degrees of viability: Sue the NFL, or rail on the league and its owners for this coaching carousel of certified losers.