Eugene Chung says he was called 'not the right minority' during NFL coaching interview

Former NFL offensive lineman and assistant coach Eugene Chung says he was told he was "not the right minority" when interviewing for an NFL coaching job this offseason.

"It was said to me, 'Well, you're really not a minority,'" Chung, who is Korean, said during a webinar Thursday, according to The Boston Globe. "I was like, 'Wait a minute. The last time I checked, when I looked in the mirror and brushed my teeth, I was a minority.'"

Chung said after he asked the interviewer to explain, he was told he was "not the right minority that we're looking for." The 51-year-old did not identify the team but said he was shocked to hear the comment. 

"It was absolutely mind-blowing to me that, in 2021, something like that is actually a narrative," Chung said. 

Chung played five seasons in the NFL for the New England Patriots, Jacksonville Jaguars and Indianapolis Colts. He then served as an assistant coach for the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs, but hasn't held a job in the NFL since 2019.