An Asian-American former NFL player and assistant coach says he was recently dismissed as a candidate for a job on a coaching staff because he wasn't "the right minority."
Former Patriots player and Eagles coach Eugene Chung, a Maryland native whose parents are Korean, made the shocking claim in an article published by the Boston Globe on Friday.
Chung, who did not coach on an NFL staff last season, declined to identify the team or individual who apparently told him he's "really not a minority."
“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 told the Globe. “So I was like, ‘What do you mean I’m not a minority?’
“That’s when I realized what the narrative was,” Chung added. “I was blown away, emotionally paralyzed for a split second. I asked myself, ‘Did I hear that correctly?’”
The 51-year-old Virginia Tech alum was drafted by New England in the first round back in 1992, and later played with the Colts and Jaguars. He transitioned into coaching after his playing days, serving as an assistant offensive line coach in two separate stints with the Eagles, as well as a stint with the Chiefs in between.
Chung says he has had generally positive experiences in the NFL, and there are many coaches and organizations who embrace diversity -- that's why he was taken aback by the unsettling exchange.
“It’s just when the Asians don’t fit the narrative, that’s where my stomach churns a little bit.”
LISTEN on the Audacy App
Sign Up and Follow Audacy Sports
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram