The Golden Age of Black NFL Quarterbacks
This year's Super Bowl typifies the excellent state of Black quarterback play in the NFL.
Doug Williams is a senior advisor to the Washington Commanders football team.
On January 31, 1988, he was their starting quarterback in Super Bowl XXII, leading the then unfortunately nicknamed “Redskins” to victory over the Denver Broncos by a score of 42-10.
He became the first Black quarterback to win a Super Bowl, and the first to be named Super Bowl MVP.
Three years later, he retired, having been hampered by injuries and the persistent racism that his sterling Super Bowl performance was an anomaly, and that Black men were not suited to play quarterback.
From then, and dozens of other Black quarterbacks playing as starters and backups, we have entered an era when Blacks are more accepted in the role. Their acceptance is based on hard-earned play that has evolved from perception to reality.
The perception is that Black quarterbacks are good at running with the football, and not as adept at the other necessities of the position.
The reality is that Black quarterbacks have proven beyond any reasonable doubt that they are more than capable of throwing the football with velocity and accuracy, leading and motivation the offense, and being the face of their franchise.
The upcoming Super Bowl features two Black quarterbacks – the young upstart in his first championship game, and the also young, but battle-tested veteran headed to his third championship game.
Jalen Hurts of the Philadelphia Eagles may be new to the Big Game, but he has proved his mettle as a persevering college quarterback. He was a starting quarterback for the dynastic Alabama Crimson Tide. Losing his starting job to Tua Tagovailoa in his sophomore year, in his junior year, he had to come into the SEC Championship Game against the Georgia Bulldogs and led the Crimson Tide to victory.
He transferred to Oklahoma and in his senior year, led them to the College Football Playoffs. He was drafted by Eagles and in his rookie year, worked his way up from their third-string quarterback to their starter.
His second year saw the Eagles achieve a playoff berth, losing a wild card round game to Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
This season saw Hurts lead the Eagles to a 14-3 regular season record and overcame a shoulder injury to defeat the San Francisco 49ers to reach his first Super Bowl.
The opposing quarterback, Kansas City Chief Patrick Mahomes, is widely considered to be the best quarterback in the league. This Super Bowl is his third at the still youthful age of 27. Using his arm, his legs, and a wily ability to evade sacks and deliver wickedly precise passes, Mahomes has seemingly assured his spot in the NFL Hall of Fame.
This first-time Super Bowl meeting of two Black quarterbacks underscores the progress made by Blacks in one of sports’ most demanding positions. The quarterback is for better or worse the face of their team. They receive a large amount of credit when the team is successful and are usually blamed when the team is unsuccessfully.
It is a position that not only requires athleticism and football throwing accuracy, but intelligence, leadership, confidence, and other intangible qualities.
Because of these qualities, many football coaches and owners felt that Black quarterbacks weren’t capable of performing these non-athletic duties. This is not surprising considering the fact that the NFL’s own concussion protocol was race-based and assumed that Blacks had lower cognitive function than Whites.
It has taken many years, but Black quarterbacks like Hurts, Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, and others are proving that we are competent and capable enough to excel.
We are in an unprecedented time of success and achievement for Black quarterbacks, and there’s no reason to think that it will end anytime soon.