James Franklin, Marcus Freeman Discuss Historic Opportunity For Black Coaches

February 04, 2007 – Miami, FL, USA – Chicago Bears coach LOVIE SMITH (R) against Indianapolis Colts coach TONY DUNGY (R) in Miami, Fla., during Super Bowl XLI. The Colts defeated the Bears 29 – 17.

Quick, who played in Super Bowl XLI.

Even hardcore football fans will probably have trouble answering that one without a hint.

The Colts beat the Bears 29-17 and the game is probably more remembered for Prince’s historically great halftime show than for anything that happened on the field.

But on the field, this game featured the first two Black head coaches in NFL history: Indy’s Tony Dungy and Chicago’s Lovie Smith.

Franklin’s been thinking about that game quite a bit in the lead up to Penn State/Notre Dame.

“I remember thinking that, as a coach, how significant that was in the profession, and how significant that was for young coaches coming up in the profession, to see those guys in that role,” James Franklin said at a Saturday press conference. “I also remember, at that time, there were a lot of conversations about, ‘Will this impact the profession? Will this impact opportunities for guys?’”

At the time of Colts-Bears, there were only six Black head coaches in college football.

Franklin worked under one of them in Kansas State’s Ron Prince as KSU’s offensive coordinator. The defensive coordinator for that 2006 season was a man named Raheem Morris, who became the Godfather to Franklin’s daughter, Shola.

Morris also became an NFL head coach and today leads the Atlanta Falcons.

In 2024, Franklin is one of 16 Black college head coaches. and he feels that number is a sign of progress.

“I know some people will say, ‘Well, that that’s not a huge increase,’ but it is an increase,” Franklin said. “At the end of the day, does this create opportunities for more guys to get in front of athletic directors? Does this create opportunities for search firms? I hope so. I think at the end of the day, you just want an opportunity, and you want to be able to earn it through your work and through your actions. I take a lot of pride in it.”

It’s something that Freeman takes a lot of pride in, too.

‘YOU DON’T JUST ADMIRE THEM FOR THE COLOR OF THEIR SKIN’

NEW ORLEANS, LA – JANUARY 02: Head Coach Marcus Freeman of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish celebrates after the Notre Dame Fighting Irish versus Georgia Bulldogs College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the Allstate Sugar Bowl on January 2, 2025, at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, LA. (Photo by Jeffrey Vest/Icon Sportswire)

When Freeman was asked about the significance of what he and James Franklin will be accomplishing Thursday, he first wanted to clear something up.

Freeman is half-Korean, which he wanted to note to pay homage to his mother.

He also remembers admiring the work of Black coaches such as Dungy, Mike Tomlin (Pittsburgh Steelers) and Todd Bowles (Tampa Bay Buccaneers).

But his admiration of their work is about more, he said, than the color of their skin.

“I mean, they are are great coaches, but you don’t just follow them because of the color of their skin,” Freeman said Saturday. “You follow them because of their actions and the men of integrity they are and their hard work.”

Freeman is proud to be “a representation,” but feels his obligation on go beyond that.

“If you want to impact the young people in this profession, you probably should do things to help them, and those are things that maybe after the season I could focus on trying to do,” Freeman said. “I want to be a representation. But that’s not enough. If you want to truly help some people, then you got to be one to make decisions and actions that truly help people.”

“Now, with that being said, it’s not about me. It’s about us. More than anything, I want to achieve team glory with this program.”

THEY KNOW IT’S A BIG DEAL

At the end of the day, Franklin’s No. 1 goal this season is to win a national championship the Penn State community that goes far beyond him.

Freeman has the same goal.

But both know that the chance be the first Black coach to win a national title is no small thing.

“It is an honor,” Freeman said. “It’s a great honor to be even mentioned, to be in this position. It’s a reminder that you are a representation for so many others that look like you, and I don’t take that for granted. And I’m going to work tirelessly to be the best version of me. And it’s great because even the guys in our program, my own kids, can understand like, don’t put a ceiling on what you can be and what you can do.”

“I’m honored to be able to compete against Notre Dame,” James Franklin said. “Most importantly, I’m honored to represent Penn State and the young men in that locker room,” “For me to sit here and say that it is not important, it’s not significant, that would not be accurate.”