The Forgotten Coach-Art Shell talks with Lenny Moon about becoming the first Black coach in modern NFL
Art Shell talks with veteran sports broadcaster Lenny Moon about becoming the first Black head football coach during the modern era of the NFL. Shell played for the Raiders from 1968-82, becoming an 8-time pro bowl performer and inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1989. That same year, the Maryland Eastern Shore product became a historical entity when owner Al Davis selected him to become the first Black head football coach in the modern era of the NFL. With the topic of the plight of the Black head coach in the National Football League still struggles, we’ve now reached the 20th year of the 21st Century. LennyMoonSports reached back and secured the view of Art Shell who broke the barrier in 1989 as the head coach of the Oakland Raiders. Three decades later, the workforce in the NFL looms near 70 percent while the number of Black head coaches in the league was down to three at press time. (See above video)