I thought for sure there would be a black head coach in Superbowl XL. Three of the twelve coaches in the NFL Playoffs were African American, and the top seed in the AFC was black. The AFC and NFC will hold their league championships this weekend, for the right to play in the Superbowl, however there will be no African-American head coach.

When I wrote, Will There Be Two Black Head Coaches in Superbowl XL?, the article was only to float the idea. It was not meant for people to assume I favorite black coaches. My main purpose of writing the article was to bring awareness to something of possible historical value. Unfortunately, this year Indianapolis Colts Head Coach Tony Dungy, Chicago Bears Head Coach Lovie Smith, and Cincinnati Bengal Head Coach Marvin Lewis all had early exits from the NFL Playoffs.

The day is coming when an African-American Head Coach will win the Superbowl. It will serve to open more minority coaching opportunities in the NFL. Everyone benefits when the best candidates for a job are hired. While twenty ago, many of us could have never envisioned that three black head coaches would lead their teams in the 2005-2006 NFL Playoffs. It is great day for progress, but the rough road still can be made smoother.

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