No New Black Head Coach Hire Leaves Ex-NFL Star Fuming, Gets Slammed by Fans

Former Colts player, Darius Butler, cites that the NFL has a coaching problem as no team hired a Black head coach in the 2026 cycle.

No New Black Head Coach Hire Leaves Ex-NFL Star Fuming, Gets Slammed by Fans

Klint Kubiak, John Harbaugh and Darius Butler inside the circle (Image via IMAGO/NBC)

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After the Cleveland Browns appointed Todd Monken as their new head coach, the only two teams that remained without one were the Cardinals and the Raiders. Both franchises found their respective coaches on Sunday.

Arizona poached Mike LaFleur from the Los Angeles Rams, where he was the offensive coordinator. Vegas walked on the same path as Arizona and hired a former OC. According to ESPN‘s Adam Schefter, the Raiders have agreed to make Klint Kubiak as their new head honcho.

With those last two spots taken, the 2026 coaching cycle has wrapped up. But the conversations took a different and yet familiar turn. Darius Butler, former NFL athlete and a frequent contributor on the Pat McAfee Show retweeted Schefter’s post with a message that caught a lot attention. “10 vacancies. Not 1 Black hire,” Butler tweeted.

The retired Colt called it a “pipeline problem.”

Darius Butler’s theory about Black coaches gets quashed by fans on social media

The NFL witnessed an influx of Black head coaches with Aaron Glenn taking charge of the New York Jets. Aside from Glenn, notable names such as Mike Tomlin, Raheem Morris, Todd Bowles managed the Steelers, Falcons, and the Buccaneers.

No New Black Head Coach Hire Leaves Ex-NFL Star Fuming, Gets Slammed by Fans
Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy (Image via IMAGO)

A year later, the Falcons let go of Morris, and Tomlin stepped down, leaving Glenn and Bowles as the only representatives. Pittsburgh nearly hired Brian Flores, but Mike McCarthy edged him out in the final decision.

Flores returned to his original designation as the defensive coordinator of the Vikings. It’s not just Flores, most defensive coordinator positions are held by former Black athletes, like Al Harris, Vance Joseph, Patrick Graham, and many others.

Butler’s hypothesis carries some weight, but his choice of words can be challenged with counterarguments.

Robert Saleh is neither Caucasian or has an African American lineage. Saleh has his roots in Lebanon and is a practicing Muslim. He became the first Muslim head coach of an NFL team when the Jets hired him in 2021. Prior to that, he made his name as the DC in San Francisco. Currently, he resides in Tennessee after taking charge of the Titans.

The Patriots turned to former player and coach Jerod Mayo after Bill Belichick‘s tenure ended in Boston. Under Mayo’s guidance, the Patriots regressed even further and was fired after just one year. Owner Robert Kraft appointed former Titans HC Mike Vrabel, who has led the Patriots to the Super Bowl in his first season.

Matt Ryan, former Falcons quarterback and NFL MVP, overhauled the coaching department in Atlanta. He appointed Kevin Stefanski as their new HC, who last year managed in Cleveland and previously worked as the Vikings’ offensive coordinator. Ryan also appointed Ian Cunningham, former assistant GM in Chicago, as the Falcons’ new general manager.

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