The NFL, according to Lovie Smith, has "a issue" with Black coaches. He was ousted a year later, and the league is now under fire once more for its lack of diversity.

As the new head coach of the Houston Texans in February 2022, Lovie Smith claimed that the NFL has "a issue" with employing Black coaches and encouraging diversity.

Just over a year ago, Smith told reporters, "I realize the number of Black head coaches there are in the National Football League.

"There's myself and Mike Tomlin, and I believe there aren't many others," she said. Therefore, there is a dilemma, which is clear to us. And once a problem arises, what are you going to do to fix it?

Smith was let go on Monday after leading the Texans for just one season, compiling a 3-13-1 record.

The Texans, who fired David Culley at the conclusion of the 2021 season, have now sacked a second Black coach in two years, Smith.

In spite of a last-second Hail Mary victory over the Indianapolis Colts, which saw them give the Chicago Bears the top pick in the 2023 NFL draft, Smith's tenure as coach wasn't full of victories and high points. But his Texans club shown competence and camaraderie, qualities frequently wanted by organizations going through a rebuild.

Smith's dismissal, according to Houston general manager Nick Caserio, was the team's wisest move at the time.

In a statement, Caserio thanked Lovie Smith on behalf of the whole organization for all that he has done as a coach and a leader for the team the past two seasons.

"I'm continually assessing our football program, and I think this is the best choice we can make right now. Building an extensive and competitive program that can achieve success over an extended period of time is my responsibility. We're not there yet, but because to the McNair family's support and the resources at our disposal, I'm optimistic about the future of our football program.

However, the 64-year-old coach's dismissal, the Texans organization as a whole, and the league's initiatives to support diversity have drawn harsh criticism from former players and TV experts.

"After one season, the Houston Texans have fired Lovie Smith. It shouldn't sit well with anyone, Robert Griffin III, a former NFL quarterback, to use two Black head coaches to wreck a team and then fire them after a single season.

NFL Hall of Famer Michael Irvin and Stephen A. Smith both criticized the decision on ESPN. The Texans organization was described as "atrocious" by Smith.

They make me feel embarrassed. And in my opinion, there are 31 clubs you should aim for if you're African American and want to be a head coach in the National Football League. More than anything, you should pray that the Houston Texans never give you a call, Smith advised.

Irvin claimed that the Texans are making "scapegoats" out of Black coaches.

The situation in Houston is chaotic, and these men are used as scapegoats. And this is what the African American coaches have been screaming about for a while, right in our face, he continued.
When CNN contacted the Texans for reaction, the group emphasized the exchange that occurred during Monday's press conference when Caserio was asked why any Black coach would consider working for the team, to which he replied that each applicant would have to make their own decisions.

"In the end, race is not a factor. Finding good coaches is important, the general manager stated. There are many top-notch coaches. David (Culley) is an excellent trainer. A good coach is Lovie Smith.

Each coach ultimately holds their own opinions. Every coach has a unique philosophy. Each coach is at a different level of comfort with what we're doing. All I can do is be open and honest, which I have done since I started my job, and I'll keep doing that while looking for a coach who we think would be the best fit for this company. That's the most straightforward way I can respond, and that's my promise.

"I was hired to do that, and I'm in a position to do that. At some point, if someone decides that's not the best course of action for our organization, I must respect and accept that.