Differences in the Success of NFL Coaches by Race

Abstract

Madden analyzed data on coaching records in the National Football League during the 1990-2002 seasons. The overall conclusion is that African American coaches are held to higher employment standards, with respect to winning, than White coaches. Madden's model used complete seasons coached and omitted partial seasons. Here, the data are analyzed analogously but partial seasons are included. The inclusion of partial season results in a lack of significance of race as a factor in firing. Furthermore, there are other potential explanations of the historically low percentage of African American coaches in the National Football League. These are discussed herein.