He was asked about the implications of the matchup between the Bucs and the Steelers, which will pit two black head coaches against each other. He said the following:
"I have a very good relationship with Tomlin. We don't look at what color we are when we coach against each other. We just know each other. I have a lot of very good white friends that coach in this league as well and I don't think it's a big deal as far as us coaching against each other. I think it's normal."
A reporter seemed miffed that he didn't want to make an issue of it and asked a follow-up question to ask if he understood the gravity of the representation that came from having 2 black head coaches go against each other and what it means for other minorities to see people "who look like them" as head coaches:
"Well, when you say 'you guys' and 'look like them' and 'grow up like them,' that means that we're oddballs to begin with," Bowles said. "I think the minute you guys stop making a big deal about it, everybody else will as well."
"I have a very good relationship with Tomlin. We don't look at what color we are when we coach against each other. We just know each other. I have a lot of very good white friends that coach in this league as well and I don't think it's a big deal as far as us coaching against each other. I think it's normal."
A reporter seemed miffed that he didn't want to make an issue of it and asked a follow-up question to ask if he understood the gravity of the representation that came from having 2 black head coaches go against each other and what it means for other minorities to see people "who look like them" as head coaches:
"Well, when you say 'you guys' and 'look like them' and 'grow up like them,' that means that we're oddballs to begin with," Bowles said. "I think the minute you guys stop making a big deal about it, everybody else will as well."
'We don't look at color': Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles downplays race in matchup vs. Mike Tomlin
Todd Bowles of the Buccaneers and Mike Tomlin of the Steelers are two of the four current Black head coaches in the NFL
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