Much has been made about the NFL‘s lack of diversity in head coaching hires, as highlighted in former Miami Dolphins coach Brian Flores’ lawsuit against the league.
On Feb. 7, Miami officially announced the hire of Mike McDaniel, the San Francisco 49ers offensive coordinator. McDaniel identifies as biracial, as his father and paternal grandmother are both Black.
Since he identifies as biracial, the 49ers will receive two third-round compensatory draft picks for being the team from where a minority coach was hired, as part of the league’s Rooney Rule.
✍️ Official.
Full Release >> https://t.co/I6Gw6aTz7m pic.twitter.com/2GQaCh6UW8
— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) February 8, 2022
With straight hair and very light skin, many social media members believe McDaniel looks White.
Mike McDaniel at his Dolphins introductory press conference pic.twitter.com/JWiu8lD4aQ
— Josiah Johnson (@KingJosiah54) February 7, 2022
Media saying Mike McDaniel is black fr though😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/88CSiD0rvN
— Jerry Jr. (@JBreezyII) February 7, 2022
Thank you NFL for hiring a black head coach in Mike Mcdaniel. #MiamiDolphins #melaninpoppin #blackhistorymonth pic.twitter.com/1xklImA6KI
— Ak Nation News (@AlphaKayode) February 7, 2022
Mike McDaniel is black! I don’t make the rules.. ✊🏽✊🏽 pic.twitter.com/SEqrAKG9Z7
— TrippyChef 🇺🇸🫠😵💫🚀 (@Trippychef412) February 7, 2022
A Reddit user even used a picture of the rapper Logic, who’s also biracial, to congratulate McDaniel.
Beyond the jokes, not looking Black is something McDaniel noticed himself during his childhood.
“I remember one particular day, walking around and all of a sudden noticing that, ‘Hey, I’m the only fair-skinned person in all these picture frames,’ ” McDaniel told NBC Sports’ Matt Maiocco in a story published in March 2021.
