Who Was the Last White Cornerback in the NFL?

The question of who was the last white cornerback in the NFL is a difficult one to answer. There are a few players who could be considered for the title, but ultimately it is up to the individual to decide who they believe fits the bill.

Introduction

When it comes to the NFL, the cornerbacks are usually the ones that make the flashy plays. They’re the ones that fans love to see, whether it’s a big hit or an interception. But what about the white cornerbacks?

Yes, there have been a few white cornerbacks in the NFL, but they’re definitely in the minority. In fact, according to an article on Bleacher Report, there were only six white cornerbacks in the NFL as of 2013. So who was the last one standing?

That would be Jason Sehorn of the New York Giants. Sehorn played cornerback for 11 seasons in the NFL, before retiring in 2004. Since then, no other white cornerback has managed to make it in the league.

This isn’t necessarily surprising when you consider that most of the top cornerbacks in the NFL are African American. In fact, out of the top 20 cornerbacks in terms of interceptions since 2000, only one is white (Asante Samuel).

So why are there so few white cornerbacks in the NFL? There are a few theories. One is that white players simply aren’t as fast as their African American counterparts. Another is that there’s a bias among scouts and coaches when it comes to evaluating white players at this position.

Whatever the reasons may be, it’s clear that white cornerbacks are a rare breed in today’s NFL.

The History of White Cornerbacks in the NFL

The last white cornerback to play in the NFL was Jason Sehorn. He played for the New York Giants from 1995 to 2002. Sehorn was drafted in the second round of the 1994 NFL Draft. He was a Pro Bowl selection in 2000. After his football career, Sehorn became a sports analyst.

Pre-1960s

In the early years of the National Football League, there were no black players at any position. In fact, it wasn’t until 1946 that an African American player, Kenny Washington, was even signed by an NFL team. However, Washington never got a chance to play in the NFL, as he was immediately drafted into the military after signing his contract.

It wasn’t until 1950 that the NFL saw its first African American player take the field. This milestone was achieved by Marion Motley, a fullback for the Cleveland Browns. Motley was an instant success, leading the league in rushing yards in his rookie season. He would go on to have a Hall of Fame career, being named to six Pro Bowls and winning four championships with the Browns.

However, while Motley and other black players found success on offense and defense, they were barred from playing one position: quarterback. It wasn’t until 1962 that an African American quarterback, Eldridge Dickey of the Oakland Raiders, was drafted by an NFL team. Dickey never played a down in the NFL, however; he was immediately converted to wide receiver.

The first African American quarterback to see significant playing time in the NFL was Marlin Briscoe of the Denver Broncos. Briscoe began his career as a wide receiver but was pressed into duty as a quarterback midway through his rookie season due to injuries at the position. He would go on to have a successful career as a receiver, but he never got another chance to play quarterback in the NFL.

1960s-1970s

In the 1960s and 1970s, most NFL teams had at least one white cornerback on their roster. Some of the more notable white cornerbacks from this era include Dick “Night Train” Lane, Mel Renfro, Lem Barney, Skip Thomas, and Lemar Parrish. There were also a number of successful white cornerbacks in college football during this time period, such as Lester Hayes (who would go on to have a successful NFL career) and Mike Haynes. However, by the end of the 1970s, the number of white cornerbacks in the NFL had begun to decline. This was likely due to a combination of factors, including the increasing popularity of lightning-fast black receivers (such as James Lofton and Lynn Swann) and the decreasing number of black quarterbacks (and thus fewer opportunities for white cornerbacks to intercept passes).

1980s-present

In the NFL, the percentage of white players at the cornerback position has decreased significantly since the 1980s. In fact, as of 2017, there are only eight white cornerbacks active in the NFL. This represents a stark contrast from the 1980s when white cornerbacks made up a significant percentage of NFL rosters. So what caused this change?

There are a few possible explanations. Firstly, the NFL has become increasingly diverse in recent decades, with players coming from all sorts of backgrounds. This increase in diversity may have made it more difficult for white cornerbacks to find a place in the league. Secondly, the game of football itself has changed over time. The passing game has become more important than ever before, and corners need to have good speed and agility to be successful. This may be another reason why we’ve seen fewer white cornerbacks in the NFL in recent years.

The Last White Cornerback in the NFL

In 1998, the last white cornerback in the NFL retired. His name was Steve Israel, and he played for the New York Jets. After Israel’s retirement, there has not been another white cornerback in the NFL. There are a few reasons why this is the case.

Asante Samuel

Asante Samuel is a former American football cornerback. He was drafted in the fourth round of the 2003 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots, and played eleven seasons in the NFL, primarily with the Patriots. He also played for the Atlanta Falcons, Philadelphia Eagles and Carolina Panthers.

Samuel was born in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He attended Boyd Anderson High School in Lauderdale Lakes, Florida, where he played high school football for the Boyd Anderson Cobras. He played college football at Central Florida.

Samuel was selected by the New England Patriots in the fourth round of the 2003 NFL Draft. He became a starter during his rookie season and remained a starter for most of his tenure with the team. He won Super Bowls XLIX and LI with the Patriots. In 2006, he was selected to the Pro Bowl and earned All-Pro honors.

In 2008, Samuel was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for a fifth-round draft pick. He played four seasons with the Eagles before being released prior to the 2012 season. He then signed with the Atlanta Falcons and spent one season with them before being released after the 2013 season. Samuel signed with the Carolina Panthers in 2014 and spent one season with them before retiring from professional football.

Jason Sehorn

Jason Sehorn was the last white cornerback in the NFL. He played for the New York Giants from 1994 to 2002. Sehorn was drafted in the second round of the 1994 NFL Draft. He played college football at USC. Sehorn was a two-time Pro Bowl selection, in 2000 and 2001. He was released by the Giants after the 2002 season and retired from football soon after.

Nate Clements

Nate Clements was the last white cornerback to play in the NFL. He was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the first round of the 2001 NFL Draft. He played for the Bills for six seasons before being traded to the San Francisco 49ers in 2007. He played for the 49ers for four seasons before being released in 2011. Clements then signed with the Cincinnati Bengals, where he played for two seasons before retiring in 2013.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it is difficult to say who was the last white starting cornerback in the NFL. While there have been a few players who have manned the position over the years, their time in the league has been relatively short. Consequently, it is likely that the last white starting cornerback in the NFL was either Lomas Brown or Asante Samuel.