Fearless with Jason Whitlock

Ep 1085 | The Real Reason Black NFL Coaching Candidates Failed in 2026

Feb 2, 2026
Steve Kim, veteran sports reporter and commentator, and Bucky Brooks, former NFL player turned analyst, join to dissect why no Black candidates landed NFL head coaching jobs in 2026. They debate leadership narratives, coaching pipelines, ownership preferences, coaching trees, Brian Flores’ lawsuit, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s firing, Deion Sanders’ Pro Bowl claims, and media controversies surrounding sports figures.
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INSIGHT

Victimhood Undermines Leadership

  • Jason Whitlock argues that embracing a victimhood identity prevents black men from being seen as leaders.
  • He says media narratives that label NFL owners racist oversimplify a complex problem.
INSIGHT

Strategy Beats Relatability For Owners

  • Whitlock contrasts Tony Dungy's strategic brand with Mike Tomlin's player-relatability image.
  • He claims owners prefer coaches with clear strategies they can replicate across an organization.
ADVICE

Build A Coaching Tree

  • Do prioritize developing coaching disciples and a coaching tree if you want to expand opportunities.
  • Invest in mentoring assistants so they become credible head-coach candidates.
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