Two years after becoming a member of coach Sean McVay’s employees, Rams assistant Thomas Brown interviewed in January to grow to be the Miami Dolphins head coach.
“If you happen to had advised me two years in the past that I had an opportunity to interview for a head job I might have advised you you’re in all probability on medicine and doubtless ought to go to rehab,” Brown stated Wednesday throughout a videoconference with reporters. “Nevertheless it was an awesome alternative, an awesome expertise for me.”
Brown, the Rams assistant head coach, seems on monitor for extra alternatives. After teaching operating backs in 2020 and 2021, Brown will coach tight ends this season, a transfer that can construct his resume and ostensibly make him a candidate for offensive coordinator positions that might result in a head teaching job.
Head coach alternatives, nonetheless, are uncommon for Black coaches.
Because the Rams put together to begin offseason exercises subsequent week, there are solely three Black NFL head coaches — Pittsburgh’s Mike Tomlin, Houston’s Lovie Smith and Tampa Bay’s Todd Bowles, who lately succeeded retired Bruce Arians. Miami’s Mike McDaniel has stated that he identifies as biracial.
In February, former Dolphins coach Brian Flores filed a lawsuit in opposition to three NFL groups alleging racial discrimination. Final week, Steve Wilks and Ray Horton joined the class-action go well with.
Brown was requested, in gentle of the lawsuit, if he was optimistic that extra Black assistants, particularly with backgrounds on offense, would get alternatives.
“Am I optimistic?” Brown stated. “I’m in all probability within the minority however I’m going to say no, I’m not, simply because I perceive the historical past with regards to not simply the NFL and the hiring course of, however… company America.”
Brown stated, “I don’t consider that it’s unimaginable” for change to happen. However he stated that with out seeing actual change in hiring practices “discuss is reasonable.”
The NFL in March introduced a Rooney Rule initiative that requires each crew to rent a minority or feminine offensive assistant coach for the 2022 season. The aim, in keeping with a league committee, is to place extra candidates within the pipeline to grow to be offensive coordinators and, ultimately, head coaches.
Brown is a part of a Rams employees that features 4 Black assistant coaches on offense, together with receivers coach Eric Yarber, new operating backs coach Ra’Shaad Samples and offensive assistant Nick Jones.
McVay employed former Rams assistant Liam Coen as offensive coordinator to switch Kevin O’Connell, now head coach of the Minnesota Vikings.
Brown stated he can be prepared for his subsequent interview alternative.
“Having the ability to undergo that have is not any completely different to me than a participant with regards to, the extra you do issues the higher you grow to be at them,” he stated.
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