Quarterback play largely dictates NFL games. As such, teams are looking for people who can build and sustain a positive culture, especially at that position.
That’s why there has been such a recent rush to hire offensive coordinators and assistants for head coaching jobs. Since 2016, 32 men have been hired as head coaches. Of those 32, 24 were offensive coordinators at some point in their careers. And of those 24, 19 were once quarterbacks coaches.
The NFL’s failure to successfully cultivate and hire Black men for offensive coordinator positions is well known. Only two Black men — Eric Bieniemy of Kansas City and Byron Leftwich of Tampa Bay — currently hold those roles.