NFL set to enter 2026 season with only three Black head coaches
The number of Black head coaches in the NFL is decreasing in 2026.
During this year's hiring cycle, the Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, Buffalo Bills, Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns, Las Vegas Raiders, Miami Dolphins, New York Giants, Pittsburgh Steelers and Tennessee Titans all had vacancies for head coach positions. In total, 10 head coaching positions were available.
One week before Super Bowl 60, as the calendar shifted to Sunday, Feb. 1, all head coach openings have been accounted for. The Cardinals announced they hired Mike LaFleur to be their head coach and the Raiders are expected to make Klint Kubiak their head coach, filling the final two head-coach vacancies.
Out of the 10 head coaching jobs available during the 2026 hiring cycle, Robert Saleh, who was hired by the Titans, represents the only minority hire this year.
No Black head coaches were hired. A statistic that puts a dark cloud over the NFL's Rooney Rule, which was established in 2003 to increase diversity in coaching and management.
The reality of Black head coaches being shut out during this year's cycle has already caused backlash on social media.
10 vacancies. Not 1 Black hire.
- Darius Butler (@DariusJButler) February 1, 2026
1 Black OC. We got a pipeline problem! https://t.co/KrX4PIplsN
Shut out. Happy Black History Month! https://t.co/u31LKb2z6P
- Mike Jones (@ByMikeJones) February 1, 2026
Zero Black head coaches hired during this year's NFL hiring cycle. Shameful!
- Tyler Dragon (@TheTylerDragon) February 1, 2026
Based on reports of how the NFL head-coaching hiring cycle looks to play out....Bowles, Glenn and Ryans will be the only black head coaches heading into 2026. It appears no black candidates will be hired for HC. pic.twitter.com/zNtMc6NT2T
- Steve Wyche (@wyche89) February 1, 2026
According to the Associated Press, it's the fifth time no Black head coaches were hired during a hiring cycle since the Rooney Rule was implemented.
The NFL is set to enter the 2026 season with just three Black head coaches. A stark contrast to the representation on the field where roughly 70% of NFL players are Black.
Follow USA TODAY Sports' Tyler Dragon on X@TheTylerDragon.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NFL teams hire no Black head coaches despite 10 vacancies in 2026