Indianapolis Colts coach Jim Caldwell will not make history Sunday. No longer is it a big deal that he is an African-American coach on the verge of a Super Bowl title.
Nope.
Been there, done that.
Twice.
First with his predecessor Tony Dungy three years ago, when he and Chicago Bears coach Lovie Smith broke the Super Bowl coaching color barrier together to assure a black coach would win the NFL title and last year with Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin.
Times have seemingly changed so much since then that there has been little talk about race leading up to Super Bowl XLIV between the Colts and New Orleans Saints at Sun Life Stadium in Miami. There have been maybe one or two questions a day, mostly in reference to the difference of how things were when Dungy did his Jackie Robinson impersonation until now.
"I think it's not quite as big of a story as it was a few years back, and I think that's a good thing," Caldwell said. "Because of the fact that I think ultimately we're all judged by one thing anyway and that's obviously that ledger [of] how many wins and how many losses. But nevertheless, I still believe that it does demonstrate, with Tony making it and winning it, and Lovie Smith and Mike Tomlin, that not only can they get you to this game but, Tony and Mike Tomlin proved that you win it as well."
Caldwell is favored to be the third rookie head coach to win a Super Bowl title, and the third African-American coach in four years to raise the Lombardi Trophy.
Source: Clarence E. Hill, Star-Telegram
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