The History of Black Quarterbacks in the NFL

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The charts above tell a remarkable story. Consider that the year of the first Super Bowl (1966), there were no black quarterbacks in the AFL or NFL. When Tom Brady was born (1977), there had never been an NFL game where both teams started black quarterbacks.

And when Brady was drafted, there had never been two black quarterbacks to face off in an NFL playoff game. Now, on the day that Brady is retiring, it’s a noteworthy sign of progress that we are just days away from the first Super Bowl featuring two black quarterbacks (Mahomes and Hurts). It has been a remarkable journey for black quarterbacks in the NFL, one that started over one hundred years ago.

In the world of gridiron football, black quarterbacks have faced significant challenges throughout history. Let’s delve into this complex issue:

1. Historical Struggles:

• The quarterback position is often considered the most critical on a football team. However, black players historically encountered difficulties in landing and retaining quarterback roles due to various factors.

• The first black quarterback to start professionally was Bernie Custis for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the Canadian Football League (CFL) in 1951. In the United States, Marlin Briscoe and James Harris became the first black quarterbacks in the American Football League (AFL) in 1968 and 1969, respectively.

• The AFL was more tolerant toward black players than the rival National Football League (NFL), which had racist tendencies until the 1960s. The two leagues eventually merged to form the current NFL in 1970.

• By the 1970s, black starting quarterbacks were more common, including players like Conredge Holloway, who led the Tennessee Volunteers to three straight bowl games. Warren Moon’s success in the CFL broke stereotypes and paved the way for more prominent black quarterbacks in the NFL during the 1980s.

• In 1971, only 3% of NFL quarterbacks who threw at least 100 passes in the season were black. By 2001, this number had risen to 35%.

1. Racial Stereotypes and Bias:

• Draft experts and scouts have perpetuated racial stereotypes when describing black quarterbacks, potentially hurting their chances of making it to the NFL in that position.

• Black quarterbacks have been more likely to be asked to switch positions, paid lower salaries than equally valuable white quarterbacks, and subjected to double standards12.

• Recent evidence shows that NFL teams chronically undervalue black quarterbacks in the draft, reinforcing longstanding claims of double standards.

1. Breaking Barriers:

• Players like Donovan McNabb, Akili Smith, Daunte Culpepper, and Michael Vick have made significant strides. Vick, in particular, became the first black quarterback taken with the first overall pick in the NFL draft.

• Despite progress, challenges persist, and ongoing efforts are necessary to combat racial bias and ensure equal opportunities for all quarterbacks, regardless of their background.