Black History Month: African-American head coaches in L.A.

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Feb 25, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; General view of Oakland Raiders helmet at the peristyle end of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The Coliseum will serve as the home of the Los Angeles Rams for the 2016 season after NFL owners voted 30-2 to allow Rams owner Stan Kroenke (not pictured) to relocate the franchise from St. Louis. Raiders owner Mark Davis (not pictured) has a potential option to join the Rams in Los Angeles. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

Art Shell

L.A. Raiders, 1989 – 1994

Shell, the first black head coach in the modern era of the NFL, led the Silver & Black to 54 wins against 38 losses in his six seasons, including three playoff appearances.

Hired by notorious firebrand Al Davis, Shell thrived in a difficult situation and was fired, leading to Davis’ later admission that the move was “a mistake,” as was their subsequent move out of Los Angeles.

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