New England Patriots assistant coach Thomas Brown has voiced frustration over what he describes as a "frustrating" lack of opportunities for Black coaches in the National Football League. Brown, who currently serves as an assistant, expressed his disappointment that despite the league's Rooney Rule—which mandates interviews for minority candidates—high-level coaching vacancies continue to be filled predominantly by white candidates.
"To say it's frustrating in some ways is probably an understatement," Brown told ESPN. He challenges the common justification cited by teams for the hiring trends: the idea that there aren't enough qualified minority candidates.
"I've constantly heard this mantra the last six years in the NFL that people hire the most qualified candidates, which I hope is true and accurate," Brown said. "But you're also seeing almost every time that is never a Black coach, which is frustrating."
Brown, 40, has a coaching background that spans various levels. After a playing career that included parts of three NFL seasons, he moved into coaching, starting as a strength-and-conditioning coach at the University of Georgia in 2011. He then held six different college coaching positions over nine years. His NFL coaching career includes a Super Bowl win with the Los Angeles Rams under Sean McVay. He later served as offensive coordinator for the Carolina Panthers in 2023 before being dismissed along with head coach Frank Reich. After a brief interim coaching role with the Chicago Bears following Matt Eberflus's dismissal in 2024, Brown joined the Patriots in 2025.
Under Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels last season, Brown helped guide the team's passing attack, which ranked sixth in the league. Hunter Henry, a tight end on the Patriots, finished seventh among his position group with 769 receiving yards.
Brown's concerns echo broader issues within the league. The NFL is currently facing a lawsuit from Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores and other Black coaches who allege discriminatory hiring practices. The Supreme Court has denied the NFL's attempt to move these proceedings to private arbitration, allowing the discovery process to continue. The league has denied any wrongdoing.
Currently, the NFL has only three Black head coaches: Todd Bowles of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, DeMeco Ryans of the Houston Texans, and Aaron Glenn of the New York Jets. A small number of Black coaches hold coordinator positions, which are typically seen as pathways to head coaching roles.