Are There Any Black Quarterbacks In The NFL?
Contents
It’s a question that has been asked for years, and it still doesn’t have a clear answer. Are there any black quarterbacks in the NFL?
The History of Black Quarterbacks in the NFL
According to a report by USA Today, there are currently only 3 black quarterbacks in the NFL. This is the lowest number in the past 20 years. In 2001, there were 8 black quarterbacks in the NFL. So what happened? Let’s take a look at the history of black quarterbacks in the NFL.
The first black quarterback in the NFL
The first black quarterback in the NFL was Marlin Briscoe. He was drafted in 1968 by the Denver Broncos, but didn’t become their starting quarterback until 1969. He played for them for two seasons before being traded to the Buffalo Bills. He played for the Bills for four seasons before retiring from football in 1976.
Briscoe was not the only black quarterback in the NFL during his career. James Harris also played during that time, but he didn’t become a starting quarterback until 1971. Harris played for several teams during his career, including the Buffalo Bills, Los Angeles Rams, and San Diego Chargers. He retired in 1981.
Other notable black quarterbacks who have played in the NFL include Doug Williams, who was the first black quarterback to win a Super Bowl (with the Washington Redskins in 1988); Donovan McNabb, who played for the Philadelphia Eagles from 1999-2009; and Russell Wilson, who has played for the Seattle Seahawks since 2012.
The success of black quarterbacks in the NFL
The National Football League (NFL) has been experiencing a steady influx of black quarterbacks over the past few decades. In 1978, the NFL Draft saw two black quarterbacks selected in the first round for the first time in history. The number of black quarterbacks drafted in the first round has since increased to eight.
While there have been a handful of successful black quarterbacks in the NFL, such as Michael Vick and Donovan McNabb, many have faced discrimination and prejudice throughout their careers. In fact, a recent study found that NFL fans are more likely to penalize black quarterbacks for making mistakes than their white counterparts.
Despite the challenges faced by black quarterbacks, the NFL continues to see an increase in their numbers. In 2019, there were 14 black quarterbacks on opening day rosters, representing 9% of all NFL quarterbacks. This is up from just 4% in 2009. As the league continues to diversify, it’s likely that we’ll see even more black quarterbacks finding success at the highest level.
The current state of black quarterbacks in the NFL
In the NFL, black quarterbacks have been a bit of a rarity. In the past 20 years, there have only been a handful of successful black quarterbacks. Some people believe that the reason for this is because black athletes are not given the same opportunities as white athletes. However, there are many successful black quarterbacks in the NCAA.
The number of black quarterbacks in the NFL
The National Football League (NFL) is a professional American football league consisting of 32 teams, divided equally between the National Football Conference (NFC) and the American Football Conference (AFC). The NFL is one of the four major North American professional sports leagues, the highest professional level of American football in the world, the largest of which is the Super Bowl.
Black quarterbacks have been a part of the NFL since its inception in 1920, with Fritz Pollard being one of the league’s first African-American players and coaches. Pollard also became the first black quarterback to start an NFL game in 1921. Despite Pollard’s success, it would be almost 50 years before another black quarterback would start an NFL game.
This all changed in 1967 when Marlin Briscoe became the first black quarterback to start an entire season for an NFL team. Briscoe’s success led to more opportunities for black quarterbacks in subsequent years and by 1978, there were nine black quarterbacks starting in the NFL. This number increased to 12 by 198Also during this time period Doug Williams became the first black quarterback to win a Super Bowl when he led the Washington Redskins to victory in Super Bowl XXII.
In 2001, Donovan McNabb became the first black quarterback to appear in a Super Bowl when his Philadelphia Eagles lost to Tom Brady’s New England Patriots. In 2002 Michael Vick became only the second black quarterback ever to be drafted number one overall and he went on to have a successful career with both Atlanta Falcons and Philadelphia Eagles.
The number of black quarterbacks starting in the NFL peaked at eight during both 2009 and 2010 but has since declined slightly with only six African-American quarterbacks starting during both 2011 and 2012 seasons. Despite this recent decline,African-American quarterbacks currently make up 21% of all NFL quarterbacks which is still higher than their 17% representation among all NFL players.
The success of black quarterbacks in the NFL
The National Football League (NFL) is a professional American football league consisting of 32 teams, divided equally between the National Football Conference (NFC) and the American Football Conference (AFC). The NFL is one of the four major North American professional sports leagues, the highest professional level of American football in the world, the wealthiest professional sport league by revenue, and the sport league with the most valuable teams.
In spite of this success, there has been a long-standing perception that black quarterbacks are at a disadvantage in the NFL. This is often attributed to a number of factors, including:
– The ” stereotype threat ” theory, which posits that black quarterbacks are more likely to be perceived as lesser athletes than their white counterparts, and thus are less likely to be given opportunities to succeed.
– The ” race-based statistics ” theory, which holds that black quarterbacks are more likely to be judged by their race rather than their individual abilities.
– The ” style of play ” theory, which suggests that black quarterbacks are more likely to be pigeon-holed into playing a certain style of football that may not be suited for the NFL.
Despite these theories, there is no clear evidence that black quarterbacks are at a disadvantage in the NFL. In fact, over the last few years there has been a surge in the number of black quarterbacks starting in the NFL. In 2016, 7 out of 32 NFL teams (22%) had black starting quarterbacks , up from just 2 out of 32 (6%) in 2010 . This trend suggests that black quarterbacks are slowly but surely gaining acceptance in the NFL.
The future of black quarterbacks in the NFL
In recent years, the number of black quarterbacks in the NFL has been on the rise. With players like Cam Newton and Russell Wilson having success, many are wondering if the NFL is ready for more black quarterbacks. There are a few factors that could affect the future of black quarterbacks in the NFL. Let’s take a look.
The number of black quarterbacks in the NFL
The number of black quarterbacks in the NFL has been on the decline in recent years. In 2020, only three black quarterbacks started in Week 1, down from eight in 2019 and nine in 2018. The league’s only black offensive coordinator was fired after one season.
There are several theories as to why this is happening, including that black quarterbacks are not being developed properly in the college ranks or that they are not being given a fair opportunity to succeed in the NFL. Whatever the reason, it is clear that the number of black quarterbacks in the NFL is on the decline.
The success of black quarterbacks in the NFL
While black quarterbacks have been a staple in the NFL for decades, their overall success has been sporadic at best. In the early years of the league, black quarterbacks were often relegated to backup roles or converted to other positions. It wasn’t until the 1970s that black quarterbacks started to see more playing time, and even then they were often limited to running quarterbacks who were not asked to do much passing.
Things started to change in the 1980s when quarterbacks like Doug Williams and Warren Moon began to have success as pocket passers. These players proved that black quarterbacks could succeed in the NFL if given the opportunity. In recent years, we have seen more and more black quarterbacks having success as starters in the league. Players like Michael Vick, Donovan McNabb, and Russell Wilson have shown that black quarterbacks can succeed in any style of offense.
The future of black quarterbacks in the NFL looks bright. With more and more players having success at the position, it is likely that we will see even more black quarterbacks starting in the league in the years to come.
