Rams legend Marshall Faulk calls out racial biases in coaching

In the NFL, there has been a hurdle for minority coaches to achieve head coaching roles. Compared to their white counterparts, minority coaches have failed to get hired, despite having equal or even greater resumes. With the recent passing of Sherman Lewis, a long-time NFL assistant head coach whose lack of a head coaching opportunity highlighted the racial bias within the league, more voices are speaking out against the unjust struggle in achieving these high-level positions.

Lewis, an African-American, was the offensive coordinator for the Green Bay Packers under Mike Holmgren. Lewis won four Super Bowls under Bill Walsh, George Seifert, and Holmgren, but never got a chance to win his own as a head coach. However, Lewis' lack of job opportunities wasn't something that was a problem for the rest of Holmgren's staff.

Quarterbacks coach Steve Mariucci was hired by the University of California to be their head coach. Mariucci was at Cal for one season before being hired as the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers. Quarterbacks coach Andy Reid was hired from Green Bay to be the head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles .

Mike Sherman was an assistant with Holmgren in Green Bay and became his offensive coordinator in Seattle before being hired as the Packers' head coach. Jon Gruden, Marty Mornhinweg, and Dick Jauron were assistants on Holmgren's staff before seeking coordinator jobs. Those coordinator positions launched both men into head coaching roles.