How Many NFL Quarterbacks Are Black?

How many NFL quarterbacks are black? It’s a question that has been asked for years, and one that continues to spark debate. While the percentage of black quarterbacks in the NFL has grown in recent years, they still make up a minority of the league’s signal callers. In this blog post, we take a look at the numbers to see just how many black quarterbacks are in the NFL.

The NFL’s History with Black Quarterbacks

In the NFL, the position of quarterback is one of the most important and revered positions on the field. The quarterback is the leader of the offense and is responsible for making sure the ball gets into the end zone. For many years, the NFL has been predominately white. However, lately there has been a shift. More and more black quarterbacks are making their way onto NFL rosters.

The NFL’s treatment of black quarterbacks in the past

The National Football League has a long and complicated history with black quarterbacks. Though the league is now more diverse than ever, with black quarterbacks playing for powerhouse teams and winning MVP awards, it wasn’t always this way. In the early years of the NFL, black players were disproportionately relegated to positions like wide receiver or running back, and it wasn’t until the 1970s that a black quarterback ever started an NFL game.

The first black quarterback to start in an NFL game was James Harris of the Buffalo Bills in 1969, but it would be another decade before another black quarterback would start regularly. In the 1980s, a handful of black quarterbacks began to break into the starting lineups of their respective teams, including Doug Williams, Randall Cunningham, and Warren Moon. These players proved that black quarterbacks could not only play at a high level but also win championships; Williams famously led the Washington Redskins to a Super Bowl victory in 1988.

Since then, the number of black quarterbacks in the NFL has continued to rise, and they are now some of the league’s biggest stars. While there is still room for improvement in terms of racial diversity among NFL quarterbacks, the progress made in recent decades has been significant.

The NFL’s current stance on black quarterbacks

In the 70s, Marion Campbell, a former defensive coordinator, said: “The thinking was that the quarterback position was so important that you couldn’t risk putting a black guy there.” From 1970 to 2002, there were only 16 black starting quarterbacks in the NFL.

However, the number of black quarterbacks has increased in recent years. In the 2012 season, seven out of the 32 teams had black starting quarterbacks. Although this is progress, some argue that the NFL has not done enough to increase racial diversity among its players.

In 2016, Colin Kaepernick, a black quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, started a protest against police brutality and systemic racism by kneeling during the national anthem. His protest gained national attention, and other players soon followed suit. However, many people criticized Kaepernick and other players for their protests, saying that they were disrespectful to the flag and to the military.

Kaepernick was not signed to a team for the 2017 season, and many people believe that this was because of his protests. In 2018, Eric Reid, one of Kaepernick’s former teammates on the 49ers, filed a collusion grievance against the NFL, alleging that owners had colluded to keep Kaepernick out of the league because of his protests. The grievance is still ongoing.

Meanwhile, other black quarterbacks have continued to speak out about racism in the NFL. In 2019, Cam Newton of the Carolina Panthers said that he believed he was treated unfairly by referees because of his race. And in 2020, Dak Prescott of the Dallas Cowboys said he would not participate in any preseason games until he received a new contract; he eventually got a four-year deal worth $160 million.

The NFL has made some progress in recent years in terms of increasing racial diversity among its players; however, there is still more work to be done.

The Percentage of Black Quarterbacks in the NFL

According to a recent study, the percentage of black quarterbacks in the NFL has been on the rise in recent years. In 2016, about 21 percent of NFL quarterbacks were black. This is up from just 13 percent in 2009. The study also found that the number of black quarterbacks starting in the NFL has more than tripled since 2009.

The percentage of black quarterbacks in the NFL today

In 2020, about 70% of NFL players were black, but the percentage of black quarterbacks was much lower at about 17%. This has been a persistent trend in the NFL for decades, with blacks disproportionately represented among running backs, wide receivers, and defensive players while whites are disproportionately represented among quarterbacks, kickers, and punters. This article looks at the history of black quarterbacks in the NFL and some of the factors that may contribute to the lack of black quarterbacks in the league today.

The percentage of black quarterbacks in the NFL compared to other positions

The percentage of black quarterbacks in the NFL has been on the rise in recent years, but they still make up a small minority of players at the position. In 2020, around 13 percent of NFL quarterbacks were black, up from just 7 percent in 2009. While the number of black quarterbacks has increased, they are still far less likely to be starters than their white counterparts. In 2020, only two of the 32 NFL teams had black quarterbacks as their primary starter.

There are a number of possible explanations for the low number of black quarterbacks in the NFL. One is that many black athletes are recruited to play other positions, such as running back or wide receiver, which are considered less important than quarterback. Another explanation is that black quarterbacks face greater scrutiny and criticism than white quarterbacks, and are therefore less likely to be given opportunities to succeed at the highest level. Whatever the reasons for the disparity, it is clear that black quarterbacks continue to be underrepresented in the NFL.

The Future of Black Quarterbacks in the NFL

The NFL has seen a decline in the number of black quarterbacks over the past few years. In the 2020 NFL Draft, only two black quarterbacks were drafted in the first round. This is a far cry from the days when black quarterbacks were a rarity in the NFL. What has changed? And what does the future hold for black quarterbacks in the NFL?

The NFL’s plans to increase the number of black quarterbacks

The NFL has been grappling with how to increase the number of black quarterbacks in the league for years. In recent years, the league has instituted a number of initiatives, including the Rooney Rule, which requires teams to interview minority candidates for head coaching and senior operations positions, and the creation of the “QB Pipeline,” an initiative that focuses on identifying and developing young black quarterbacks.

Despite these efforts, the percentage of black quarterbacks in the NFL has remained stagnant at around 20 percent for the past decade. But there are signs that this could be changing. In the 2019 NFL Draft, three of the top-five quarterbacks selected were black ( Kyler Murray, Dwayne Haskins, and Daniel Jones). And in 2020, six of the 32 first-round draft picks were black quarterbacks (Justin Herbert, Tua Tagovailoa, Jerry Jeudy, CeeDee Lamb, Jaylen Waddle, and DeVonta Smith).

There are a number of factors that could be contributing to this increase. For one, more young black athletes are choosing to play quarterback at an early age. According to a 2018 study by USA Football, the number of 6-12 year olds playing quarterback increased by nearly 60 percent between 2009 and 2017.

In addition, there has been a shift in how college football programs are recruiting quarterbacks. In recent years, there has been a trend towards selecting quarterbacks with dual-threat abilities who can both throw and run with the ball. This change has coincided with an increase in the number of black quarterbacks entering the NFL Draft.

It remains to be seen if this trend will continue or if it is simply a blip on the radar. But if it does continue, it could have a big impact on how many black quarterbacks are in the NFL in future years.

The NFL’s plans to improve the quality of black quarterbacks

The National Football League has been making a concerted effort to improve the quality of black quarterbacks in the league. In recent years, the league has implemented a number of initiatives aimed at increasing the number of black quarterbacks who are able to start and succeed at the NFL level.

One of the most significant changes has been to the NFL’s quarterback development program, which was created in 2007. The program provides targeted training and development opportunities for young black quarterbacks, and has seen success in helping players like Cam Newton and Russell Wilson reach the starting ranks of the NFL.

In addition to this, the NFL has also begun working with universities to improve the quality of black quarterback play at the collegiate level. The league has created a partnership with historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) to provide scholarships and coaching clinics for black quarterbacks. This initiative has already begun to bear fruit, with HBCU quarterbacks like Tarvaris Jackson and Dak Prescott having successful NFL careers.

The NFL’s efforts to improve the quality of black quarterbacks are admirable, and it is clear that they are beginning to have an impact. With more black quarterbacks being given opportunities to succeed at both the collegiate and professional levels, it is likely that we will see even more success stories in the years to come.