Black Coaches Make Super Bowl History

(CBS/AP)  Their longtime friendship made the day even more poignant.

Just four hours after the Chicago Bears' Lovie Smith became the first black head coach to lead his team to the NFL's promised land — the Super Bowl — he had company: Indianapolis Colts head coach Tony Dungy, reports CBS News national correspondent Byron Pitts.

But opportunities have been hard to come by, notes Pitts. In the NFL, where nearly 70 percent of the players are black, only seven of 32 head coaches this season were black.

As the first black head coaches to make it to the nation's biggest sporting event, Smith and Dungy couldn't help mentioning how special it was to be there together.

"It means a lot," Dungy said after his Colts beat New England 38-34 in the AFC title game. "I'm very proud of being an African-American. I'm very proud of Lovie."

Smith got there first when his Bears won the early game and the NFC title by rolling over the New Orleans Saints, 39-14.

Asked who he'd like to play on Feb. 4 in Miami, Smith didn't hesitate with his answer: "We have to play someone and, in my perfect world, I would like to see the Colts be that team.

"Tony Dungy has done an awful lot for our game," Smith said. "He hasn't had a chance to coach in the Super Bowl. I would love to see it."

Four hours later, it was a done deal.

"I'm happy for both coaches," Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney said. "I hope we get to the point we don't have to hear about it."

Las Vegas oddsmakers made Indianapolis the early favorite by a touchdown.

"I'll feel even better to be the first black coach to hold up the world championship trophy," Smith said.

It won't be easy, though, especially the way Peyton Manning and the Colts are playing.

"I just wanted to do my job and do my job well," the Colts quarterback said. "I didn't think I needed to be super. I just needed to be good."

Manning has been dogged for years by critics who said his greatness was diminished by the fact he couldn't win a big game. After leading his team back from an 18-point deficit, he finally has the chance — on football's biggest stage.

"It sounds good," a beaming Manning said. "It really does."

For the next two weeks, Smith and Dungy figure to be in the spotlight as much as Manning, perhaps more so.

Smith was one of Dungy's assistants when they were with Tampa Bay from 1996-2000, and they established a friendship that has grown in the years since.

When Dungy started in Tampa, there were just three black head coaches in the NFL. This season, there were seven. Now, there will be two in the Super Bowl.

"Any time you're the first person to do anything, regardless of your race or anything like that, it's special," Bears running back Thomas Jones said.

Chicago will play for the NFL title for the first time in 21 years, after Mike Ditka's Bears shuffled through the regular season and playoffs and routed New England.

This year's Bears put up one of the league's most impressive records during the regular season. Unlike those dominant '85 Bears, this year's squad was second-guessed nearly all season.

"We've overcome a lot of doubters, but we're here, we made it and it's definitely a great feeling," Jones said.

Whether it was the inconsistent play of quarterback Rex Grossman or the sudden vulnerability of its traditionally tenacious defense, few believed the Bears (15-3) had what it would take to get to Miami.

None of that matters now. Not after the Bears made enough big plays on defense and used a steady running game in the sleet and snow of Chicago to beat the Saints.

"This is why we play the game, to get to the Super Bowl and win," All-Pro linebacker Brian Urlacher said. "This overshadows everything."

Manning and the Colts (15-4) know the feeling. The All-Everything quarterback from one of football's most talented families had two league MVP awards and a handful of records but had never earned a shot at a Super Bowl ring — until now.

"It could still be, 'Can he win a Super Bowl?' and then if he does, everyone will shut up," Dungy said.

The Colts are playing in the Super Bowl for the first time since they beat Dallas in 1971, when the franchise was still based in Baltimore. After beating three-time Super Bowl winner Tom Brady and the Patriots, Manning has the chance to silence his critics.

"I don't get into monkeys and vindication," he said. "I don't play that card. I know how hard I worked this season, I know how hard I worked this week. It's always nice when you can take the hard work, put it to use and come away with a win."

[foxguy2]

For a good article on the racism involved in this check out this blog: http://www.pocatelloshops.com/blogs/doug.php

[agnim]

The "first Black this and the first Black that" is more a testimony to the Racist Mentality That Has Pervaded The American Society for generations, than it is about the leadership accomplishments of those Black coaches, which are all together something else!

[bobo2854-2009]

What?

In the NFL, where nearly 70 percent of the players are black, only seven of 32 head coaches this season were black.

This is the media keeping racism alive.

I guess all football and basketball coaches should be African American. Hockey coaches Caucasian American....oops wait Canadian. Baseball coaches Caucasian Ameri.....ah Latino!
I give up.

[justmy2cents-2009]

For many of you who don't understand the importance of recognizing the accomplishments of African Americans when things like this occur, I think it speaks more to your state of denial than ignorance.

African Americans have had to overcome years of oppression in almost every facet of life. When great accomplishments like these occur it brings hope that the playing field in this world system is becoming equalized and regardless of the oppression, their skills, talents and all that they possess can't be denied.

[cmayes2]

Of course race and color matters, when did it leave. The white man won't let us live it down. And, that's because they still believe this is their country, and were just here. I'm so tired of hearing that lie form the republicans and racist that all you have to do is work hard; thats all we've ever done. If we work any harder we won't make it. So, for 41 years black men were not trying to be head coaches.

[aa36042]

getcentered:

Instead of trying to push the fact that two black coaches are in the super bowl, how about saving all your clichi overplayed blame game. I don%u2019t care what the color of their skin is, the only reason you do is because youre ether a self hating liberal or a person to uses skin color to get gains you don%u2019t deserve..this is old and tired and its time to move on..lets figure out how to get inner city women to start spending money on educational toys instead of foot locker and to start valuing fathers and stability..how does that sound.who cares about this!!??

[getcentered]

The Colts game was AMAZING!

Congrats to the first and second Afican American NFL coaches to ever make it to the Super Bowl!

%u2026%u2026and for the folks who don't think story is valid are WILLFULLY INGNORANT about how racism still exists in our country and how the victims of racism have only seen major progress in the last two generations.

GO COLTS!

[jt92202]

I don't care if their black, white, green or blue they are great coaches and deserved to win their conferences!! I thought both coaches felt very uneasy when they were asked about how they felt being the first black winning coaches and I do believe most AMERICANS feel the same. By reading other posts in the past most people of color feel they are AMERICANS and are tired of being segregated by their color. Just another thing the Media blow's out of their A$$'s for a story!!

I say great job Colt's and Bears, you got 2 great coaches and may the best team win!!!

[aa36042]

ajaxrose1

your missing the point. we are just tired of it..enough already. people shouldnt be mentioned/praised/punished or treated differtnly based on race.if you have one ounce of objectivity in you , you would be willing to move on past all this cliche' cra*..enough already. blagh!

[ajaxrose1]

The Colts are a class act and Peyton Manning seems to be a good person. I agree with the race thing, but it's a first, so who cares if it's mentioned? You all obviously read the news and know that American media sucks...they suck every last drop it can get out of a story, usually the worse the better as far as they're concerned. This is a nice story they're sucking for a change, so instead of finding something to be negative about couldn't we just enjoy a happy story for once? Sour grapes if your team didn't make it...mine's going to the Super Bowl! LOL! Go Colts!