How Many Black Punters In NFL History?
Contents
A look at how many black punters there have been in NFL history, and how they’ve fared in the league.
Introduction
In the history of the NFL, there have been only 32 black punters. This is a shockingly low number, considering that blacks make up 70% of the league’s players. The reason for this is unknown, but some believe it has to do with the stereotype that blacks are not intelligent enough to play the position. Whatever the reason, it is clear that black punters are greatly outnumbered in the NFL.
The first black punter in NFL history
There have been very few black punters in NFL history. The first black punter in NFL history was Luther Bradley, who played for the Detroit Lions from 1978 to 1982.
Since then, there have only been a handful of black punters in the NFL. In recent years, Matt Dodge, Bryan Anger, and Marquette King have all had successful NFL careers.
With the recent success of black punters in the NFL, it is likely that we will see more black punters in the future.
Other notable black punters in NFL history
There have been a few other notable black punters in NFL history. In 1971, Ray Guy became the first punter to be drafted in the first round when the Oakland Raiders selected him with the 23rd overall pick. Guy was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2014.
Another black punter, Reggie Roby, was drafted in the sixth round by the Miami Dolphins in 1983 and went on to have a successful career with several teams. Roby was named to the Pro Bowl three times and was also inducted into the Dolphins’ Honor Roll.
More recently, Marquette King became just the second black punter to be drafted when he was selected by the Oakland Raiders in the 2012 NFL Draft. King has spent his entire career with the Raiders and has been one of the league’s top punters over the past few years.
The current state of black punters in the NFL
In recent years, the number of black punters in the NFL has declined sharply. In 2013, there were just four black punters in the league; by 2018, that number had dropped to two. This is part of a wider trend of black players disappearing from specialist positions in the NFL. In 2002, 65% of NFL punters were black; by 2017, that number had fallen to 8%.
There are a number of factors that may account for this trend. One is the increasing popularity of spread offenses in college football, which often make use of shorter, quicker kicking specialists instead of taller, heavier punters. Another is the league’s recent focus on increasing scoring, which has led to changes in kickoffs and extra point attempts that make it harder for conventional punters to succeed.
Whatever the reasons for the decline, it is clear that black punters are becoming increasingly rare in the NFL. This is likely to have a negative impact on the opportunities available to black players seeking to enter the league, and could lead to further declines in the coming years.
Conclusion
In conclusion, there have been a total of 22 black punters in NFL history.
