10 firsts for Black history in the Super Bowl

First Black head coach to win a Super Bowl 

Also on February 4, 2007 (SB XLI), Indianapolis Colts head coach Tony Dungy became the first Black head coach to win a Super Bowl. The Colts defeated the Chicago Bears, 29–17.

Dungy, whose dad was a physics professor and his mom was a Shakespeare teacher, told the public, “My dad’s first teaching job was in Arlington, Virginia, and he can’t ride on the bus.. can’t teach at certain schools. One generation later we win the Super Bowl… I’m sitting in the first seat, on the first bus, it made me laugh almost. This is what my dad was talking about. Just work, do what you were supposed to do and you’ll make a difference.”

Notably, of the over 500 head coaches in NFL history, 24 of them have been Black head coaches. Since Dungy, the only other head coach to win the Super Bowl has been Mike Tomlin (2009).