who was the 1st black head coach in pro football?

Question

coached the team in Akron in the late 30s--early to mid 40s

Answer 1

Art Shell for the raiders. He was hired back this year but coached he coached their in the late 80's or early 90's

Answer 2

I agree that there should be less of a fuss made about these sorts of things. Same thing with the Super Bowl. It is nice that Dungy and Smith were the first black coaches in a SB, but honestly they should have talked about what good coaches there were, not what good BLACK coaches there were (also that both were very good people off the field, or that they're good friends).

Answer 3

Frederick Douglass Pollard,.All-America halfback..A pro football pioneer. Began career in 1919 with Akron Pros. Helped Akron become NFL's first champion, 1920. One of just two African Americans in the NFL at time.
NFL's first African American head coach, 1921. Exciting, elusive runner. Played and sometimes coached four different teams in NFL career. Born January 27, 1894 in Chicago, Illinois. Died May 11, 1986, at age of 92.

FRITZ POLLARD
In 1921 he earned another distinction becoming the first African American head coach in NFL history when the Pros named him co-coach of the team.

The first African American head coach in the NFL (Hammond, Indiana)and by the Pro Football Hall of Fame as the first African American Quarterback, playing the position & taking direct snaps from center for the Hammond Pros in a couple of games in 1923.
He was elected to the College Hall of Fame (1954, 1st African American) &was finally inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2005 almost 80 years after his playing days were over

He died in 1986 at the age of 92 and was a true pioneer of the game and left a lasting legacy for future African American Quarterbacks and players.

First African-American head coach: Fritz Pollard, 1921 Akron, 1925 Hammond

First African-American head coach, modern era: Art Shell, 1989 Los Angeles Raiders

First African-American assistant coach: Lowell Perry, 1957 Pittsburgh Steelers

First African-American head coach to take team to Super Bowl: Lovie Smith, 2006 Chicago Bears; Tony Dungy, 2006 Indianapolis Colts
First African-American quarterback in the NFL: Willie Thrower (Michigan State), Chicago Bears 1953

First African-American official: Burl Toler (San Francisco University), field judge/head linesman, 1965 to 1989

First African-American referree: Johnny Grier (University of D.C.), 1988

First African-American elected to Pro Football Hall of Fame: Emlen Tunnell, defensive back (Iowa)
New York Giants 1949-1958, Green Bay 1959-1961: elected 1967

First African-American starting quarterback in a Super Bowl: Doug Williams, Washington Redskins, Super Bowl XXII (1987 season)

Answer 4

Fritz Pollard

Answer 5

Who cares

Answer 6

it was art shell of the oakland raiders