Smith Hired as Texans Head Coach sparks Controversy

 

Photo Credit: Brian Barefield of BigSargeSportz

Numerous people questioned the reasoning and timing of the Houston Texans' abrupt decision to hire Lovie Smith as their new head coach.

It is believed that the last-minute switch is in response to the controversy surrounding diverse representation among NFL head coaches.

After filing a lawsuit for alleged racial discrimination against the NFL a few days earlier, Brian Flores was hired to replace him. Texans' head coach opening was also open to Flores.

Flores and other Black coaches, according to the lawsuit, were discriminated against by the NFL based on race, being denied positions as head coaches, offensive and defensive coordinators, quarterback coaches, and general managers. In January, the Dolphins fired him in spite of a 9-8 season that included a seven-game winning streak nearly propelling the team to the playoffs.

No one can dispute Smith's qualifications and deserving. Previously, he served as head coach of two teams. The Chicago Bears went to the Superbowl in 2006 under his leadership as head coach of the team. Afterward, he coached the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for two seasons until 2015. Between 2016 and 2020, he spent time as Illinois' head coach.

His most recent position was as defensive coordinator and associate head coach for the Texas Texans in 2021. While other candidates were being interviewed for weeks, he wasn't considered for the head coaching job initially. Aside from Hines Ward and Josh McCown, Houston also considered Joe Lombardi.

One begins to wonder if Flores' lawsuit sparked the hire and brings light to an issue at hand in the NFL.