Has There Ever Been A Black Kicker In The NFL?

Many people believe that there has never been a black kicker in the NFL. This is a myth. In fact, there have been several black kickers in the NFL over the years.

The History of Black Kickers in the NFL

According to Pro-Football-Reference.com, there have been 21 black kickers in the NFL since 1970.

The first black kicker in the NFL

The first black kicker in the NFL was Marlin Briscoe, who played for the Denver Broncos in 1968. He was also the first black quarterback in the league, playing four games at the position during his rookie season. Briscoe went on to play wide receiver for several years before retiring in 1976.

The decline of black kickers in the NFL

In the early years of the National Football League, black players were often used as kickers and punters. This was because they were thought to have an advantage in speed and agility. However, over time, the number of black kickers in the NFL declined sharply. Today, there are very few black kickers in the league.

There are a number of possible explanations for this decline. One theory is that racism played a role. It has been suggested that white coaches and scouts became less willing to give black players a chance to play kicking positions. Another possibility is that the pool of black athletes shifted towards other positions, such as running back or wide receiver, which are considered more glamorous and have higher-paying contracts.Whatever the reasons for the decline, it is clear that black kickers are now a rarity in the NFL.

The Reasons for the Decline of Black Kickers in the NFL

It wasn’t that long ago when the NFL saw an influx of talented black kickers. But for some reason, that trend has declined in recent years. Why is that? Some say it’s because the black community doesn’t value the kicking position. Others say it’s because the pool of black kicking talent has dried up. Let’s take a closer look at this issue.

The lack of role models

One of the reasons that there are so few black kickers in the NFL is the lack of role models. When young black athletes look at the NFL, they don’t see many players who look like them playing the position of kicker. This can make it seem like kicking is not a viable option for black athletes, which deters many from even trying out for the position.

In addition, the vast majority of kicking coaches in the NFL are white. This means that black kickers often don’t have access to the same level of coaching and instruction that white kickers do. As a result, they are at a disadvantage when it comes to making it to the NFL.

The lack of opportunities

Since the early 2000s, the number of black NFL kickers has been in decline. In 2002, there were six black kickers in the league. By 2009, that number had dwindled to just two. And as of 2019, there is only one black kicker currently active in the NFL: Caleb Sturgis of the Philadelphia Eagles.

So what explains this sharp decline? There are a few possible explanations.

First, it’s worth noting that kicking has become increasingly specialized in recent years. In the early days of the NFL, kickers were often also used as punters or even quarterbacks (hence the term “utility player”). But as the game has evolved, those positions have become more and more specialized, to the point where most teams now carry a dedicated punter and kicker on their roster. As a result, there are simply fewer opportunities for players to break into the kicking game.

Second, kicking is one of the most mentally demanding positions in football. A successful kicker needs to be able to maintain his focus and composure under intense pressure, often with the game on the line. This isn’t easy for anyone, but it can be especially difficult for young players who are still learning to control their emotions.

Third, kicking is a physically demanding position as well. Kickers need to have strong legs and hips in order to generate enough power to consistently make long field goals. They also need to be very accurate, as even a slight miscalculation can result in a missed field goal. This combination of physical and mental demands can be tough for any player to meet, but it’s especially challenging for young players who are still developing their bodies and skills.

Finally, it’s worth noting that kicking is often viewed as a “white” position. This is a stereotype that appears to date back to the early days of professional football, when most of the league’s top kickers were white players from small towns or rural areas. Over time, this stereotype has persisted even though the reality is that kicking is a skill that can be mastered by anyone with enough practice and dedication.

Despite these challenges, there is still hope that we will see more black kickers in the NFL in future years. In recent years, several talented young black kickers have emerged from colleges across the country (including 2017 All-American Aden Aerospace). With more opportunities and better training available than ever before, these players have a chance to overcome some of the challenges faced by their predecessors and carve out a place for themselves in the league.

The Future of Black Kickers in the NFL

It is no secret that the NFL has been lacking in diversity lately. With the recent protests and movements for social justice, the NFL has been under a lot of scrutiny. One area that has been lacking in diversity is the kicking game. There has never been a black kicker in the NFL. This may seem like a small thing, but it is a big deal.

The rise of black kickers in the NFL

The NFL has seen a recent surge in the number of black players joining the league, and this trend appears to be continuing. In the past, the league has been predominately white, but that is slowly changing. In recent years, we have seen more black players taking on positions traditionally reserved for white players, such as quarterback, running back, and wide receiver.

One position that has not seen much change in terms of diversity is kicker. Although there have been a few black kickers in the NFL over the years, they are still a rarity. In fact, out of the 32 teams in the NFL, only one currently has a black kicker on their roster.

Why are there so few black kickers in the NFL? There are a number of possible explanations. One theory is that many black athletes are simply not exposed to kicking at a young age. Another possibility is that kicking is not seen as “cool” or “tough” enough for some black athletes. Whatever the reason, it’s clear that there is still a long way to go before we see true diversity in this position.

The impact of black kickers in the NFL

black players have been largely absent from the kicking game in the NFL. In the history of the league, there have only been a handful of black kickers and punters, and most have not had long careers.

The dearth of black kickers in the NFL is particularly striking when compared to other positions. While black players make up less than a quarter of the league’s total population, they account for more than 70 percent of its running backs, wide receivers and cornerbacks. Black players also have a significant presence at positions such as linebacker, safety and defensive end.

The lack of black kickers in the NFL is often attributed to a lack of role models and opportunities at the youth and college levels. While there are many successful black quarterbacks, running backs and wide receivers in the NFL, there are few black kicking prospects for young players to look up to.

There are also fewer opportunities for black kickers at the college level. While colleges often recruit multiple quarterbacks, running backs and wide receivers from each high school class, they generally only sign one or two kickers each year. This means that there are fewer scholarships available for black kicking prospects, making it more difficult for them to earn college scholarships and get noticed by NFL scouts.

Despite these challenges, there have been some success stories. Doug Williams became the first black quarterback to win a Super Bowl in 1988, while Jerry Rice is widely considered to be the greatest receiver of all time. There have also been a number of successful black running backs and defensive players in recent years.

With more role models and opportunities available, it is likely that we will see more black kickers in the NFL in the future. If more young players are given the chance to develop their kicking skills, we could see a dramatic increase in the number of black kickers in the league within a few years.