NFL wraps up summit highlighting Black talent

Troy Vincent wrapped up the NFL’s threeday General Manager Forum and Quarterback Coaching Summit with a passionate plea to anyone who still thinks there aren’t worthy Black candidates for head coaching positions.

Vincent praised Houston Texans assistant coach Pep Hamilton, Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, Philadelphia Eagles quarterbacks coach Brian Johnson and several other coaches who gave impressive presentations during this week’s webinar.

Each team had representation from at least an owner, president, general manager or head coach during the threeday events.

“We want the best for our game, so this was confirmation that these young men are talented,” said Vincent, a fivetime Pro Bowl cornerback and the NFL’s executive vice president of football operations. “They’ve developed the best quarterbacks at the collegiate level. Now all of a sudden they can’t develop a quarterback, they can’t call plays but they’re coaching the topfive draft picks year in and year out. Stop it. We’ve got work to do, but we’re committed to it.”

There are only four Black GMs and three Black head coaches in a 32team league where about 70% of the players are minorities.

“I’ve always said that it would be good to have owners at the table, and I think we’ve finally got guys at the table and they got an opportunity to see firsthand,” said Doug Williams, the first Black QB to win a Super Bowl and a Black College Football Hall of Fame cofounder.