What Percent of NFL Quarterbacks Are Black?
Contents
A recent study found that what percent of NFL quarterbacks are black? The answer may surprise you.
The NFL’s History with Racism
African Americans have been playing football since the late 1800s, but it wasn’t until the mid-1950s that they began to play in the NFL. In the early days of the NFL, there were few black players and the league was segregated. Over time, the league has become more diverse, but there is still a long way to go.
The NFL’s treatment of black players in the early years
The National Football League (NFL) was founded in 1920, but it wasn’t until nearly two decades later that the league began to seriously integrate. In 1946, the Los Angeles Rams became the first team to sign an African American player, Kenny Washington. The following year, the NFL draft saw Ohio State running back Marion Motley selected in the sixth round by the Cleveland Browns.
With these two signings, the NFL began what would be a slow but steadily increasing integration of black players into the league. It wasn’t until 1962 that significant numbers of black players began to appear on NFL rosters. That year, 11 percent of NFL players were black. The percentage of black players in the league continued to rise in subsequent years and by 1981 had reached 21 percent.
However, despite this progress, the NFL’s treatment of black players in its early years was far from ideal. African American players were often relegated to playing positions that were considered less important, such as defense or special teams. Black quarterbacks were virtually nonexistent in the NFL until 1967, when Marlin Briscoe became the first to start an game at that position.
It wasn’t until 1978 that a black quarterback ( Doug Williams) was drafted in the first round of the NFL draft. And it wasn’t until 2012 that an African American quarterback ( Colin Kaepernick) led his team to a Super Bowl victory.
Despite theseSlowly but surely things have been changing for black quarterbacks in recent years thanks in part to high-profile successes such as those of Williams and Kaepernick. Today, roughly 20 percent of all NFL quarterbacks are black . This is still below the overall percentage of black players in the league (roughly 70 percent), but it represents a significant increase from just a few decades ago.
The NFL’s treatment of black players in the modern era
Despite the NFL’s efforts to improve its treatment of black players, the league has a long history of racism. In the early years of the NFL, black players were often subjected to discrimination and violence both on and off the field. In 1927, for example, a group of black players organized a walkout after one player was crudely nicknamed “nigger” by his teammates. The league did little to address the issue and black players were effectively banned from the league until 1946.
Even after black players were allowed back in the league, they faced many obstacles. In 1957, for example, NFL commissioner Bert Bell decreed that no more than three black players could be on the field at any one time. This rule was not formally rescinded until 1974.
Since then, the NFL has made some progress in diversifying its ranks, but there is still room for improvement. In 2017, only 7 percent of quarterbacks in the NFL were black. This is despite the fact that black athletes have historically been some of the most successful players in the league.
The NFL’s Black Quarterbacks
In the National Football League, African American quarterbacks have always been a minority. Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, and Drew Brees are among the league’s most notable quarterbacks, but they’re all white. So, what percent of NFL quarterbacks are black?
The success of black quarterbacks in the NFL
In recent years, there has been an influx of successful black quarterbacks in the NFL. While black quarterbacks have always been a part of the league, they have not always been given the same opportunities or recognition as their white counterparts. This is beginning to change, however, as more and more black quarterbacks are given a chance to prove themselves at the highest level.
As of 2019, there are eight black quarterbacks who are starters in the NFL: Cam Newton, Russell Wilson, Dak Prescott, Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, Kyler Murray, Baker Mayfield, and Deshaun Watson. That number is up from just two in 2014 (Newton and Wilson). These eight quarterbacks are some of the most successful in the league, and they are helping to change the perception of black quarterbacks.
Despite this progress, there is still room for improvement. Black quarterbacks make up just 9 percent of all NFL quarterbacks (including backups), which is still far below their percentage of the population (13 percent). There is also a significant difference in salaries between black and white quarterbacks. The average salary for a black quarterback is $5 million per year, while the average for a white quarterback is $10 million per year.
There are many factors that contribute to this disparity, but one thing is clear: black quarterbacks are finally starting to get the recognition they deserve.
The struggles of black quarterbacks in the NFL
The National Football League has a long and complicated history when it comes to race. The league was integrated in 1946, but it wasn’t until 1959 that the first black quarterback – Willie Thrower – suited up for an NFL game. In the decades since, there have been only a handful of successful black quarterbacks in the league.
The reasons for this are numerous and complex. Some experts say that the NFL’s lack of diversity among coaching staffs and front office personnel is to blame. Others say that black quarterbacks simply aren’t given the same opportunities as their white counterparts. Regardless of the reasons, it’s clear that black quarterbacks have had to struggle to find success in the NFL.
The current crop of black quarterbacks includes some talented players like Cam Newton, Russell Wilson, and Jameis Winston. But even with these talented players at the helm, black quarterbacks are still fighting an uphill battle in the NFL.
The Future of Black Quarterbacks in the NFL
According to a recent study, only about 1 in 10 NFL quarterbacks are black. This number has been slowly rising over the past few years, but it’s still far lower than the percentage of black players in the NFL as a whole. The future of black quarterbacks in the NFL is an important topic, and one that’s worth discussing in more detail.
The increasing number of black quarterbacks in the NFL
In recent years, the number of black quarterbacks in the NFL has been on the rise. In 2016, African American quarterbacks made up about 20 percent of NFL quarterbacks, up from just 6 percent in 2001. The trend looks set to continue, with several talented young black quarterbacks currently making their way through the ranks.
This increase is partly due to a greater focus on developing young black talent by NFL teams. In addition, many black athletes are now choosing to play quarterback in high school and college, thanks to the success of players like Michael Vick and Cam Newton.
The future looks bright for black quarterbacks in the NFL, and it will be interesting to see how they continue to develop and change the face of the league in years to come.
The decreasing number of black quarterbacks in the NFL
African Americans have been playing quarterback in the National Football League (NFL) since Fritz Pollard in 1923. However, their participation in the league has never been proportional to their presence in the general population. In 2017, only 6.7% of NFL quarterbacks were black, while African Americans made up 70% of the league’s running backs and wide receivers. The proportion of black quarterbacks in the NFL has been on a steady decline since 2000, when 17% of quarterbacks were black.
There are a number of possible explanations for the decrease in black quarterbacks in the NFL. One is that the pool of talented black quarterbacks is smaller than it was in the past. Another possibility is that white quarterbacks are being given more opportunities to play, while black quarterbacks are being pushed out of the league. There is also evidence that racial bias among NFL coaches and personnel decision-makers plays a role in who gets hired and who doesn’t.
Whatever the reasons for the decline in black quarterbacks, it is clear that they are at a disadvantage relative to their white counterparts. This is evident not only in the lower number of blacks playing quarterback, but also in the fact that they are less likely to be starters and more likely to be relegated to backup or third-string roles. This disparity has important implications for the future of black quarterback prospects in the NFL.