Here’s where we blur the lines between the everyday Black community and those of us whose careers, identities and families are sustained by the great game of Football.

Let me be clear: Representation matters. And there’s not enough at head coach in the National Football League.

Black boys and girls need to see people who look like them in leadership positions across football to affirm their self-worth — to keep alive a sense of limitless possibilities.

Black professionals in football, from the front office to the sidelines, need the same to have confidence that they’ll receive a fair shake for the next promotion. This point is crucial as we build upon HBCU partnerships and welcome more young Black professionals into league-affiliated workplaces.

The NFL is filling a pipeline of diverse coaching candidates at all levels, including head coach. We’ve launched programs from scratch to get the best candidates in front of club owners and other club decisionmakers at the table when personnel decisions are made. We’re in a constant state of education and reeducation, doubling down on initiatives that prove effective and tweaking those that don’t.

The same approach applies to executive hiring.

Ran Carthon, who is Black, had never met the Tennessee Titans’ leadership group until December 2022, as a participant in the new NFL front-office Accelerator. He impressed; no surprise — Ran is an impressive person, the epitome of Black excellence.

One month later, the Titans hired Ran as their 14th general manager, the first ever Black person to hold that position within the Tennessee organization.

Making those connections, giving diverse candidates an opportunity to shine, is exactly what the Accelerator and other NFL pipeline programs are intended to do.

Ran’s story is anecdotal evidence that we, as a football community, are on the right track. Looking at the numbers, we’ve seen progress at GM, club president and key roles in the coaching ranks. I’m hopeful these are indicators of better results to come and increased representation at head coach.

As we continue this important work, during the final days of Black History Month, it’s worth reflecting on progress to date and the path ahead.

Black history is American history. Professional football is woven into the fabric, a thread still unspooling. Stitching in the Black agenda, committing to equity and access, will contribute to a richer tapestry. I truly believe it.

So long as we, the National Football League, focus our efforts on the big picture, we’ll continue to make lasting change. No doubt these efforts are making a difference, today, this minute, to people in the Black community and other historically marginalized groups.

They are the reason we carry out the hard work of progress. Investing in opportunity-based initiatives will help build a more fair and just society. Meanwhile, building momentum toward true representation in football will show the world what’s possible.