News Article

Dungy, Smith may open more doors:

Carl Kotala

Published: January 30, 2007

FLORIDA TODAY

January 30, 2007

MIAMI - …On Sunday, Indianapolis' Tony Dungy orChicago's Lovie Smith will become the first black head coach to win a Super Bowl…

As much as the two friends want to impact the game and bring a Super Bowl championship home to their respective cities, they can also influence the future of the NFL in another way -- if they haven't already.

"Each time one of the minority coaches is successful, it makes it easier for others coming in through the pipeline," saidCyrus Mehri, a prominentWashington D.C. civil rights attorney and counsel for the Fritz Pollard Association.

"Obviously, these are tough decisions that owners have to make for head coach and front-office positions and they're very competitive. When they see the success of the minority coaches who are there, that makes it easier to open the door for the next person."…

When the Fritz Pollard Alliance was formed to help advocate hiring policy advancements in the NFL in 2002, there were only two black head coaches. Now there are six…

"I don't think anyone doubts that this is going to accelerate this," Mehri said. "Think about what it does for the country. How many people watch the Super Bowl? Half a billion? And for the first time, there are going to be two black coaches sitting on the sidelines.

"Obviously, the big story is going to be Peyton Manning vs. Rex Grossman -- the players. But right behind it is the coaches. It's right up there."