The NFL is a weird place where "Black Monday" usually refers to the day coaches get fired, but the conversation about who gets hired—and why—never actually takes a day off. If you’re looking for a simple number, here is the current reality as of January 2026: there are 3 Black head coaches currently holding onto their jobs. Three.
Out of 32 teams.
That number probably feels shockingly low, especially considering that just a few months ago, the league entered the 2025 season with six. But the coaching carousel in this league moves fast, and lately, it’s been spinning most of the Black leadership right out the door. The recent resignation of Mike Tomlin in Pittsburgh—a man who hadn’t had a losing season in nearly two decades—was the final gut punch for diversity advocates.
The Shrinking Circle: Who Is Actually Left?
Right now, the list of Black head coaches is a short one. You’ve got Todd Bowles down in Tampa Bay, DeMeco Ryans leading a resurgence in Houston, and Aaron Glenn, who the New York Jets just confirmed they are keeping for the 2026 season.
That’s the whole list.
Honestly, it’s a bit of a crisis. Mike Tomlin’s departure from the Steelers ended a 19-year run that was basically the gold standard for coaching stability. Then you have Jerod Mayo (Patriots) and Raheem Morris (Falcons), both of whom were shown the door after the 2025 season wrapped up. Antonio Pierce, who seemed like the savior of the Raiders just a year or so ago, is also gone.
It’s worth noting that people often get the count mixed up because of Mike McDaniel in Miami. While he has biracial heritage, McDaniel has been vocal about the fact that he doesn't personally identify as Black, which is why most official tracking—like the reports from the Associated Press or the New York Amsterdam News—doesn't include him in that specific tally.
Why the Number Keeps Crashing
You’d think with the Rooney Rule being around since 2003, we’d be past this. But the rule—which requires teams to interview at least two external minority candidates for head coaching vacancies—has become a bit of a "check the box" exercise for some owners.
The biggest bottleneck isn't the interviews, though. It’s the pipeline.
Most NFL owners are currently obsessed with finding the next "young offensive genius." They want the guy who can whisper sweet nothings into a franchise quarterback's ear. Statistically, most Black coaches come up through the defensive side of the ball. DeMeco Ryans was a defensive coordinator. Aaron Glenn was a defensive coordinator. Todd Bowles? Defensive guy.
When 80% of teams are looking for an offensive play-caller to be their next head coach, and the majority of Black assistants are coaching linebackers or secondary units, the math just doesn't work in their favor.
The 2026 Hiring Cycle: A Turning Point?
We are currently sitting in the middle of a massive hiring spree. Eight teams are looking for new leaders right now, including:
- The Pittsburgh Steelers (replacing a legend)
- The Baltimore Ravens (who shocked everyone by firing John Harbaugh)
- The Las Vegas Raiders
- The Miami Dolphins
There is some hope on the horizon. Brian Flores is once again a hot name after a stellar stint as the Vikings' defensive coordinator. Anthony Weaver (Dolphins DC) and Ejiro Evero (Panthers DC) are also getting a lot of phone calls. But the trend of hiring former "offensive gurus" like Matt Nagy or Klint Kubiak remains a massive hurdle.
What Most People Miss About the "Incentives"
In 2020, the NFL tried to get clever. They started rewarding teams that developed minority talent. If a team has a minority coach or executive hired away to be a head coach or GM elsewhere, that team gets third-round compensatory draft picks.
It sounds great on paper. In practice? It’s a slow burn. It helps the teams that lose the coaches, but it doesn't necessarily make an owner more likely to hire a Black coach if they’ve already got their heart set on a specific "name" candidate.
The reality of how many black coaches in the nfl are active at any given time usually comes down to the whims of about 32 very wealthy, very private owners. Until there is a fundamental shift in how "qualified" candidates are identified—moving away from the "who do I know" networking circles—the numbers are likely to keep fluctuating wildly.
Actionable Insights for the 2026 Season
If you're following the league's diversity efforts, keep an eye on these specific movements over the next few weeks:
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- Watch the Steelers' hire: Replacing Mike Tomlin with another minority candidate would be a massive statement of intent from the Rooney family, the namesake of the diversity rule itself.
- The "Offensive Assistant" Requirement: Since 2022, every team has been required to have a minority or female offensive assistant. Watch if any of these assistants move up to Coordinator roles this year. That is the only way the pipeline truly fixes itself.
- The Brian Flores Factor: His ongoing legal battle with the league over hiring practices is the elephant in the room. If he gets a head job this cycle, it could signal a major shift in how owners view "risk" versus talent.
The numbers are low, but the talent is undeniably there. It just depends on whether the front offices decide to look past the usual suspects this spring.
To stay updated on the latest hirings as they happen, you can check the official NFL Communications site or follow the live tracker at Sharp Football Analysis, which is usually the fastest to update when a contract is signed.