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When he was hired by the Houston Texans as the team’s new head coach in February 2022, he said the NFL had “problems” with hiring and diversity of black coaches.
“I know there are a lot of black head coaches in the National Football League,” Smith told reporters less than a year ago.
“There’s Mike Tomlin, and I think there’s me, but I don’t know any more. There’s a problem, and it’s clear to us. And after the problem happens, what are you going to do about it?” Is it?”
Smith was fired Monday at the end of his only season with the Texans, finishing with a 3-13-1 record.
Smith is the first Black coach in two years to be removed from office by the Texans, who fired David Curry at the end of the 2021 season.
Smith’s time in charge wasn’t filled with wins and high scores, but his farewell gift to the organization was a last-minute Hail Mary victory over the Indianapolis Colts. Chicago Bears. But his Texans team showed cohesion and ability. This is a trait that is often sought after for outfits that are being reconstructed.
Houston general manager Nick Caserio said firing Smith was the best decision for the team at the moment.
“On behalf of the entire organization, I would like to thank Rabby Smith for his contributions as coach and leader to the team over the past two seasons,” Caserio said in a statement.
“I am constantly evaluating football operations and believe this is the best decision at this time. It is my responsibility to build a comprehensive and competitive program that can sustain success over the long term. With the support of the McNair family and the resources available to us, I am confident in the direction the football program is heading.”
However, the dismissal of the 64-year-old coach, the organization as a whole, and the measures the league has taken to promote diversity have been heavily criticized by former players and TV pundits.
“The Houston Texans fired Lavie Smith in a year. It doesn’t do anyone the right thing to take two blackhead coaches to tank and fire them a year later,” former NFL quarterback said. Robert Griffin III tweeted on sundaywhen news of Smith’s dismissal broke.
On ESPN, Stephen A. Smith and NFL Hall of Famer Michael Irvin also denounced the decision. Smith called the Texas organization “brutal.”
“They’re embarrassing. As far as I know, if you’re African American and you want to be the head coach of the National Football League, there are 31 teams you should hope for. I hope the Texans in Houston don’t call you. We should ask beyond God,” said Smith.
Irvin said black coaches are used as “scapegoats” by Texans.
“Houston is a mess and they are bringing them in and using them as scapegoats. It’s blatant,” he said.
When CNN reached out to the Texans for comment, the team highlighted the moment during Monday’s press conference when Caserio was asked why he would consider a black coach to work on the team, and his answer was that individual candidates were themselves. must make a choice of
“At the end of the day, it’s not about race, it’s about finding quality coaches,” said the general manager. “There are a lot of quality coaches. David (Culley) is a quality coach. Lovie (Smith) is a quality coach.
“At the end of the day, each coach has their own beliefs. Each coach has their own philosophy. Each coach has their comfort level with what we’re doing. What can I do?” Just be honest and upfront, I’ve been doing this since the day I got this job, and I’ll continue to do that and try to find the coaches that I feel make the most sense for this organization. is the easiest way I can answer, and that is my commitment.
“That’s what I am hired for and that is what I am in a position to do. , must be accepted.”
CNN reached out to Lovie Smith for comment.
At the start of the 2022 season, NFL.com reported that Smith was one of only six minority head coaches in the NFL. That’s a low number in a league where nearly 70% of his players are black.
Since Art Schell was hired by the Los Angeles Raiders in 1989 as the first black head coach in modern history, only 24 of the 191 head coaches hired were black.
However, the NFL is taking steps to increase the diversity of its coaching ranks.
Specifically, in 2003 the NFL introduced the Looney Rule to improve its hiring practices in order to “increase the number of minorities recruited to head coaches, general managers, and executive positions.”
But the Looney Rule was not an unconditional success.
In 2003, the Detroit Lions were fined $200,000 for failing to interview minority coaches prior to hiring Steve Mariucci as their new head coach.
In response to criticism, the NFL announced last March that it would set up a diversity advisory board of outside experts to review its hiring practices.The team will also hire minority coaches as offensive assistants. is needed.
Despite rule changes implemented in recent years to tighten rules, the 2022 lawsuit alleges that some teams conducted “fake” interviews to meet the league’s diversity requirements. I’m here.
Last February, former Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores filed a federal civil lawsuit alleging racism against the organization of the NFL, New York Giants, Denver Broncos and Miami Dolphins.
Flores, who is black, said in his lawsuit that the Giants interviewed him for a vacant head coaching job under unfaithful circumstances.
Two months after filing his first lawsuit, Flores added the Texans, claiming the organization refused to hire him as head coach this offseason.
In response to the lawsuit, the Texans said their search for a head coach was “very thorough and comprehensive.”
The NFL said Flores’ claims were nonsensical.
“The NFL and our clubs are committed to ensuring fair employment practices and continuing to move forward to provide a level playing field for the organization as a whole,” the league said in response to the lawsuit.
“Diversity is at the core of everything we do and there are very few issues that our clubs and internal leadership team spend more time on. I will defend you.”
But 12 months after firing their last black head coach, the Texans fired another head coach.
“How do you hire two African Americans, let them sit for a year, then fire them?” asked NFL Hall of Famer Irvin.
“You know Houston is a mess,” Ervin added.
“I don’t know a great White coach who would take a job (of the Texans) unless he gave some kind of guarantee. ‘You need to guarantee me four years to turn this place around.’ , the African-American coach cannot participate in that force because Rabby did not have another job.
“This was his last chance to return to the NFL, and he has to accept what’s on the table to try and change that.
The Texans are currently searching for a new head coach under general manager Caserio. The new appointment will be Caserio’s third as a coach. It is almost unprecedented for General his manager to get the chance to hire his third head coach on the same team.
Texans chairman and CEO Cal McNair said he will take a more active role in the hiring process.The next head coach will be the organization’s fourth in three years.
According to the NFL, the Texans have already requested to speak with five candidates about filling Smith’s position, and the list includes two black coaches.
After Smith was hired in March 2021, McNair said:
During that first press conference, Smith spoke candidly about how to bring more diversity to the NFL coaching staff.
“People in positions of authority, such as head coaches and general managers, need to carefully consider trying to place more black athletes in quality control positions throughout the program. You can move up.
Smith continues: It’s about choosing from the many men who look like me. You look at my staff, that’s what I believe. That’s how you increase it, and leave the rest to others. I think we all have the opportunity to choose and that’s how we get it done.
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