Outkick founder and radio show host Clay Travis tweeted on the recent NFL head coach vacancy news reported over the past few days. On Thursday, it was reported that former Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris will become the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons. Morris is the fourth minority to be hired to one of the several head coach positions that were available.
As always with Travis, he has taken an angle on the subject that will align with his base. For the last two weeks, all signs had pointed towards six-time Super Bowl champion Bill Belichick, who would be a lock to become the next head coach of the Atlanta Falcons. He interviewed for the positions two times, but the Falcons had other plans.
Belichick was not the only candidate who received multiple interviews with the Atlanta. Other prospects include Mike Vrabel, Bobby Slowik, Ben Johnson, and Ejiro Evero numerous times. Travis concluded that if Belichick were an African American head coach with six Super Bowl titles on his resume, there would be more media scrutiny on why he was not hired.
If Bill Belichick were black, the fact that no NFL team would hire him would be the number one story in sports media and presented as evidence of the NFL’s systemic racism all day long on ESPN. But since he’s an old white guy no one is even paying attention.
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) January 25, 2024
Somebody needs to remind Travis that when you are a black head coaching candidate, you do not get the opportunities that Belichick received. He was once viewed as a failure for what occurred during his tenure with the Cleveland Browns but was given another chance to become a head coach once again with the New England Patriots. He drafted future Hall of Famer Tom Brady in the seventh round, and the rest is history.
Some black coaches may never get a chance to pursue a second opportunity if they are fired from their first job, regardless of their proficiency in the area of expertise. Many of them get neutralized into accepting coordinator positions, especially on defense. But if Belichick had a clearer vision of remaining competitive once Brady left the Patriots, he’d probably still be employed. If Belichick does not coach in 2024, there will be more than enough media coverage on where he could land next.
