The discussion of race in leadership positions, particularly in America with its unique history, is a thorny and complex subject not just in football, but in any business. We are thrust headfirst into the midst of that conversation every January and February when typically between five and 10 teams oust their head coach and search for another—and usually all but one or two, if any, are white.
Nobody knows this better than Pittsburgh Steelers senior defensive assistant Teryl Austin, who has been interviewed for vacant head coaching positions 11 times over the course of his lengthy coaching career.