The Colorization of NFL Quarterbacks

Writer: Keion Cage

National Football League (NFL) celebrated its 100th year anniversary of the league’s establishment in the 2019-2020 year. The game of football has grown to be one of America’s most popular sports. The popularity is not the only significant factor of this season, because this is also the year of for the black quarterbacks.

There were ten different black quarterbacks that started for an franchise which is the most in league history. Quarterback position is widely considered the most substantial position in the NFL due to the massive criteria that is needed to play the position. Leadership, a strong arm, and intelligence are some of the characteristics of a profound quarterback. In the genesis stage of the NFL, people did not believe that blacks were not capable of meeting the standards of am quarterback.

The league did not see its first black starting quarterback until 48 years later after it was established. In the 1968 season, the Denver Broncos listed Marlin Briscoe as the starting quarterback for the week two game against the Cincinnati Bengals. This opportunity made Marlin Briscoe the first black quarterback to start in a NFL game.

Briscoe got the opportunity to play quarterback for one season and start in five games before being released and boycotted until he chose to switch to the wide receiver position. Briscoe opened the door for black quarterbacks to come after.

Notable black quarterbacks such as Doug Williams (first black quarterback to win Super Bowl MVP) and Warren Moon (only black quarterback in the Pro Football Hall of Fame) were the quarterbacks that came after Marlin with their generational talents. Williams and Moon displayed to the world that blacks are more than capable of doing extraordinary things beyond the basic criteria of a quarterback.

Moon mentioned in an interview with ESPN’s The Undefeated that “Marlin opened doors for [him] and a whole lot of people like [him].”

When the Atlanta Falcons took Michael Vick with the number one pick in 2001, that put a massive spotlight upon the rising of black quarterbacks. Vick electrified the league with phenomenal skills and changed the way the quarterback position is played today.

“A different style of play at the quarterback position, and a headache for defenses to try to plan to stop,” said Vick in an interview with ESPN. “A lot of defensive coordinators told me that I could be their worst nightmare, and I was.”

Vick was a multitalented quarterback that the league had never seen before. When Vick was introduced into the league and displayed his extraordinary skillset, the football world was put on noticed that blacks are more than capable of playing quarterback in the NFL.

Ever since the Michael Vick era, more blacks are getting the opportunity to play quarterback at the highest level. This led to Patrick Mahomes becoming 2020’s NFL Super Bowl Most Valuable Player (MVP), Kyler Murray becoming the 2019 NFL Draft number one pick, Russell Wilson becoming the highest paid player in NFL history until recently being passed by LA Rams’ Jared Goff, and Lamar Jackson become the second player ever to be an unanimous pick for NFL MVP.

The Undefeated Senior NFL Writer, Jason Reid said on ESPN’s First Take that “It’s not just that black quarterbacks are guys. What you have now is franchise elite passers.”

These quarterbacks are not just dominating the NFL, they are dominating the game with swagger. From Jackson’s video game spin moves to Mahomes no look passes. The league has never seen anything like this in its 100 years of establishment. This is an example of what blacks can do when given the right opportunity.

Lamar Jackson, Dak Prescott, and Deshaun Watson are young franchise quarterbacks that are becoming the face of the league and reimaging the view upon black quarterbacks.

This is not just significant to the game of football, but to the American society. Blacks have always had to work extremely harder to get the same opportunity as others no matter what the situation was. The quarterback position is just an example of how successful blacks can be when given the chance to be.

“The NFL is celebrating its 100th season,” said Reid. “In this 100th season, African American quarterbacks have never been in more power and prominent role throughout this league.”