How Many Black QBs Are in the NFL?
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How many black quarterbacks are in the NFL? The answer might surprise you. According to a recent report, the number of black quarterbacks in the NFL has been on the rise in recent years.
The history of black quarterbacks in the NFL
The first black quarterback in the NFL was George Taliaferro, who was drafted by the Chicago Bears in 1949. He played for three teams during his seven-year career and is best known for being one of the first black players tointegrate the University of Indiana’s football team. Despite his success on the gridiron, Taliaferro’s career was relatively short-lived; he retired from the NFL in 1955.
It wasn’t until 1967 that another black quarterback would appear in an NFL game. Marlin Briscoe, a rookie for the Denver Broncos, started four games that season before being switched to wide receiver full-time. He would go on to have a successful 14-year career as a receiver, winning two Super Bowls with the Miami Dolphins.
Despite their successes, both Taliaferro and Briscoe were limited by the racism of their era; it wasn’t until 1970 that another black quarterback would start an NFL game. James Harris was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in 1969 and became their starting quarterback midway through his rookie season. He would go on to have a productive 11-year career with several teams, most notably leading the Los Angeles Rams to a division title in 1979.
Lincoln Kennedy is often cited as one of the best offensive lineman ever to play in the NFL He was drafted by Atlanta Falcons in 1993 and quickly became one of their star player . In his rookie season he was voted to be All-Pro and selected for Pro Bowl . After being traded to Oakland Raiders in 1996 , he became one of league’s most dominant offensive tackle . He was part of Raiders ’ Super Bowl XXXVII victory over Tampa Bay Buccaneers .
Daunte Culpepper is best known for his time with Minnesota Vikings , where he became one of NFL ’s most productive quarterbacks . After being traded to Miami Dolphins following 2005 season , Culpepper suffered multiple knee injuries which led to end of his career .
The current state of black quarterbacks in the NFL
The NFL has seen a recent uptick in the number of black quarterbacks in the league. In 2020, there are 14 black quarterbacks in the NFL, which is up from just six in 2017. This increase can be attributed to a number of factors, including an increase in youth participation and the success of black quarterbacks like Russell Wilson and Lamar Jackson.
However, despite this increase, black quarterbacks still only make up 7% of all NFL quarterbacks. This is lower than the percentage of black players in the NFL overall, which is about 13%. And,black quarterbacks are still far less likely to be starters than their white counterparts. In 2020, only eight black quarterbacks are starters, compared to 28 white quarterbacks.
There are a number of factors that contribute to this disparity, including racism and prejudice. Unfortunately, these problems are not unique to the NFL and will likely take years to overcome. In the meantime, we can hope that the recent uptick in black quarterbacks is a sign of positive change to come.
The future of black quarterbacks in the NFL
With the recent success of black quarterbacks in the NFL, many are wondering if this is a sign of things to come. While it is still early to say for sure, the trend does seem to be pointing in that direction.
There are currently 32 starting quarterbacks in the NFL, and of those, eight are black. This means that 25% of all starting quarterbacks in the NFL are black. This is up from just 6.3% in 2009, and it is double the percentage of black quarterbacks who were starting in the league just four years ago.
So what has changed? It is hard to say for sure, but one thing that seems to be a factor is the increasing acceptance of black quarterbacks by both fans and coaches. There has always been a stereotype that black quarterbacks were not as smart or as capable as their white counterparts, but this has been slowly changing in recent years.
One player who has helped to change this perception is Cam Newton, who was drafted first overall by the Carolina Panthers in 2011. Newton was an instant success in the NFL, winning Rookie of the Year and leading his team to the playoffs in his first season. He has continued to play at a high level since then, and he was even named MVP of the league in 2015.
Newton is not the only one having success; there are several other black quarterbacks who are playing well at a high level. Players like Russell Wilson, Dak Prescott, and Lamar Jackson are all having great seasons, and they are helping to change the perception of black quarterbacks around the league.
The future looks bright for black quarterbacks in the NFL, and it will be interesting to see how many more players can have success at the position in years to come.