Back in 2002, Detroit rapper Eminem released his fourth studio album “The Eminem Show,” an album that featured one of his biggest hits, “Without Me.” In typical fashion, he mocks everyone from boy band members to then-Vice-President Dick Cheney in this song. He also compares himself to Elvis Presley as a White man getting rich and famous off a primarily Black art form (rap) and that his influence on hip hop was so big, it could not prosper without him (thus the “Without Me” title.)
2002 would also be the last year Kliff Kingsbury played quarterback at Texas Tech. Following that season, Kingsbury was drafted by the New England Patriots and received a Super Bowl ring that year despite being on the injured reserve. He spent the next several years being an NFL and Canadian Football League journeyman. He would begin his coaching career with the University of Houston leading up to his present-day coaching position with the Arizona Cardinals.
Eminem in “Without Me” surmises, given his stature in rap, he’ll always be important and relevant, and remember he mentioned being a White star in a “black” arena.
Well…
NFL head coaches bank their success on players whose racial makeup is 70 percent Black; yet all but 4 of the 32 head coaches in the NFL are White and, with the exception of Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shahid Khan, have a mirroring White owner.
The past two years have truly been awful for the hiring of Black and Brown coaches. Of all the Black coaches fired last year, all but Brian Flores in Miami, were replaced by a White coach. Most like Kingsbury, who had NO NFL head coaching experience prior to being offered the position. Same this season, six open head coaching positions, all but one, Ron Rivera to Washington, were White. I believe Marvin Lewis with the Cowboys was the only Black coach to be offered an interview.
Kliff Kingsbury’s hiring is the epitome of coaching in the NFL. White coaches are given praise and promotion without merit or substance, while Black and Brown coaches can’t even get an interview. Kliff Kingsbury’s career is typical of most younger newly hired White coaches. Coaches who’ve been around, possibly coached, had coffee with, shared an Uber whatever connection to be made to justify recent hirings, they’ve been made.
You be the judge:
Kingsbury ‘s quarterback during his coaching tenure…
University of Houston – Case Keenum (finished Houston career with multiple NCAA Division I passing records)
Texas A&M – Johnny Manziel (won the 2012 Heisman Trophy)
Texas Tech – Baker Mayfield and Patrick Mahomes (do I need to explain these guys)
Arizona Cardinals – Kyler Murray (number overall pick 2019 NFL Draft)
It’s important to note that Kingsbury so far as a head coach has a losing record. As Texas Tech’s head coach he went 35-40, and in his first season with Arizona, 5-10-1. Despite having at Texas Tech the greatness of Baker Mayfield and Patrick Mahomes, Kingsbury had four losing seasons out of the six he coached for Texas Tech.
How does a guy with a losing college record get an NFL head coaching job? Just because he smiled at Baker Mayfield a few times? While guys like Eric Bieniemy, offensive coordinator of the Kansas City Chiefs, you know the one Patrick Mahomes is the quarterback for, can’t even get an interview.
We can all talk about this. We can see it on sports debate shows. We can read about it in the papers. The only force capable of truly making a change is the NFLPA (NFL players association). Said association has an upcoming collective bargaining agreement and we hope, this issue is a top priority.
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