Racial issues faced by black quarterbacks
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In gridiron football and its variants, American football and Canadian football, the quarterback position is often considered the most important on the team. While there have been a growing number of players of African or minority descent throughout the history of collegiate and professional football, black players have historically faced difficulty in landing and retaining quarterback roles due to a number of factors. In addition, some black quarterbacks claim to have experienced bias towards or against them due to their race. Black players as a whole are disproportionately over represented in the NFL, being only ~13% of the U.S. population yet 67% of NFL players are black, with 17% of quarterbacks being black.[1]
History
Since the earliest days of professional and college football, the number of black players, let alone quarterbacks, has been on the rise. The first black quarterback to start professionally was
The CFL was
In 1971, 3% of quarterbacks in the NFL who threw at least 100 passes in the season were black, but by 2001 this number had risen to 35%.
In 2017, the New York Giants benched longtime quarterback Eli Manning in favor of Geno Smith, who was declared the starter for one week. The Giants were the last team never to field a black starting quarterback during an NFL season.[9] Though progress has evidently been made, a 2015 study showed that black quarterbacks were still twice as likely to be benched as their white counterparts.[11]
Since the inception of the game, only three quarterbacks with known black ancestry have led their team to a Super Bowl victory: Doug Williams in 1988, Russell Wilson in 2014, and Patrick Mahomes, who is multiracial, in 2020. Other black quarterbacks to start in a Super Bowl include Steve McNair in 2000, McNabb in 2005, Colin Kaepernick (who is multiracial), in 2013, Cam Newton in 2016, and Jalen Hurts (in 2023).[12] Super Bowl LVII was the first Super Bowl in which both teams' starting quarterbacks were Black, as Mahomes faced off against Hurts.[13]
Four quarterbacks with black ancestry (McNair, Newton, Mahomes, and Lamar Jackson), have won the Associated Press NFL Most Valuable Player Award.[14][15]
In addition, eight quarterbacks with known black ancestry have won the Heisman Trophy: Andre Ware in 1989, Charlie Ward in 1993, Troy Smith in 2006, Newton in 2010, Robert Griffin III in 2011, Jameis Winston in 2013, Jackson in 2016, and Kyler Murray, who is multiracial, in 2018.[16]
In Week 1 of the 2020 NFL season, 10 quarterbacks with known black ancestry (Cam Newton, Teddy Bridgewater, Dwayne Haskins, Lamar Jackson, Patrick Mahomes, Kyler Murray, Dak Prescott, Tyrod Taylor, Deshaun Watson, Russell Wilson) started games for their teams, the most ever on opening week.[17]
Stereotyping of black quarterbacks
A lot of us aren't viewed as passers – we're viewed as athletes. I think it's unfair and unfortunate.[18]
There is some controversy over how white and black quarterbacks tend to be described by the media, especially with NFL draft prospects. Draft experts and scouts have a history of describing black quarterbacks in ways that perpetuate racial stereotypes and hurt those prospects' chances of making it to the NFL as a quarterback.[19] Even those who make it to the NFL allegedly continue to face this narrative.[18]
An empirical study published in The Howard Journal of Communications supported this hypothesis. The researchers analyzed the written descriptions of quarterback prospects in the NFL Draft section of the Sports Illustrated website from 1998 to 2007. They looked at each player's description for words or phrases about athleticism and intelligence and sorted them into categories based on whether they were positive or negative. A significant difference was found between how black and white quarterbacks are described by SI. Black quarterbacks tend to be praised for their athleticism and criticized for a lack of intelligence. Meanwhile, white quarterbacks are often praised for their intelligence and criticized for a lack of athleticism.[20] For example, Daunte Culpepper and Tee Martin, both black quarterbacks, were described with terms such as "physical specimen" and "impressive specimen," respectively. Meanwhile, white players were described as "good signal callers," and "real student[s] of the game."[19]
Sports writers have discussed how Black quarterbacks often have their intellectual and leadership qualities as a quarterback minimized.
Wonderlic testing
Until 2022, players were given the
There is evidence that higher Wonderlic scores are mildly correlated with lower interception rates and higher passer ratings.[25][26] However, the Wonderlic test has not been without criticism, with some claiming it is racially biased.[27][28] In addition, some quarterbacks with low scores, such as Donovan McNabb, who is black, and Jim Kelly, who is white (15 for both), have had long successful careers in the NFL.[29] In 2013, the NFL began administering the Player Assessment Tool, an additional test of mental aptitude to go alongside the Wonderlic during the combine process.[30] Following the 2021 season, the League decided to eliminate the Wonderlic Test from the Combine process altogether.[31]
Notable examples of quarterbacks affected by racial stereotyping
It's always going to be twice as bad just because of who I am – an African-American quarterback... Look across the league, man. We’re held to a certain standard. We almost have to be perfect.[32]
Marlin Briscoe
After a successful college career as a quarterback, the Denver Broncos drafted Marlin Briscoe in the 14th round of the 1968 NFL/AFL draft, with plans to shift him to the defensive secondary. It was commonplace back then to convert black players who had played quarterback to other positions, but Briscoe did not sign with Denver until he was promised a chance to practice at quarterback.[33] After injuries to Denver's starter, Briscoe became the first black quarterback to start a game in an American major professional football league in 1968. That season, Briscoe threw for 1,589 yards, broke the Broncos’ single-season rookie touchdown record with 14, and finished second in Rookie of the Year voting.[34] Regardless, it became clear that Denver would no longer play him at quarterback, so Briscoe asked for and was granted his release.[33] He then signed with the Buffalo Bills, who put him at wide receiver. Briscoe never played quarterback again for the rest of his career, but saw success as a receiver in Buffalo and later with the Miami Dolphins.[35]
James Harris
Kordell Stewart
After spending his first years in the NFL as a backup quarterback and utility player, Kordell Stewart, nicknamed "Slash" due to his versatility, won the starting position for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1997. After a productive 1997 season at quarterback, Stewart struggled after his offensive coordinator Chan Gailey left to become head coach of the Dallas Cowboys, and at one point in 1998 was ordered by head coach Bill Cowher to attend wide receiver meetings instead of quarterback meetings, though he would eventually return to the quarterback position in 1999. During this time, rumors surfaced that Stewart had been arrested after being caught doing sexual acts with another man in Schenley Park, leading to ongoing rumors of Stewart's sexuality to this day. Stewart himself acknowledged that he believed the rumors were race-based and no such police report exists on Stewart's arrest, confirming that the rumors were false.[38][39]
Stewart would face criticism for the rest of his time in Pittsburgh for his play, race, and rumored homosexuality,
Donovan McNabb
In 2003, conservative radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh claimed that the media was biased in favor of Donovan McNabb, a prominent black quarterback at the time. Limbaugh stated that "the media has been very desirous that a black quarterback do well… he got a lot of credit for the performance of this team that he really didn't deserve."[42] In a study of news coverage of white and black quarterbacks, political scientist David Niven of Florida Atlantic University disputed Limbaugh's claim, and found that black quarterbacks, including McNabb, did not receive preferential treatment by the media, yet neither did white quarterbacks, noting there were "minor" and "inconsistent" differences.[43]
Tyrod Taylor
In a 2017 interview published by The Buffalo News, then-Buffalo Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor stated that he always knew he would be criticized more than his white counterparts, a sentiment also echoed by Michael Vick and Cam Newton, but that it drives him to be a better player.[18][32]
Deshaun Watson
Despite his ability to both pass and run effectively,
Lamar Jackson
Despite a prolific college career as
Kyler Murray
Before the Arizona Cardinals' 2022 season, quarterback Kyler Murray engaged in a lengthy contract dispute with the Cardinals.[50] Eventually, Murray and the Cardinals agreed to a 5-year, $230.5 million extension in July, but the new contract contained a film study clause that required Murray to study film for four hours a week. Several observers intensely criticized the Cardinals organization for the inclusion of the clause, including Hall of Fame quarterback Warren Moon, who perceived the clause as stereotypical towards black quarterbacks. Specifically, Moon elaborated that "it's something we were always accused of back in the day when they didn't let us (black quarterbacks) play...that we were lazy, that we didn't study, that we couldn't be leaders, that we weren't smart. So all those different things just kind of came to surface after we put all that stuff to bed over the years and just because of this deal that's going on between Arizona and Kyler." In response to the criticism, the team removed the clause a week later.[51]
See also
- Race and sports
- Black players in professional American football
- Quarterback
- National Football League controversies
Further reading
- Jordan, Billy Joe (2005). N.F.L. Black Quarterbacks Underrated. AuthorHouse. ISBN 9781420896657.
- Martin, Wisdom T. (2003-04-01). Intentional Grounding: The History of Black Quarterbacks in the NFL. AuthorHouse. ISBN 9781403395535.
- Rhoden, William C. (2007-01-30). Third and a Mile: The Trials and Triumph of the Black Quarterback. ESPN Books. ISBN 9781933060118.
- Williams, Doug (1990). Quarterblack: Shattering the NFL Myth. Bonus Books. ISBN 9780929387475.
- An Essay About Black Quarterbacks and the Wonderlic
Notes
- ^ Willie Thrower played a game for the Chicago Bears of the NFL in 1953. While he did not start, he was the first black player exclusively listed as a quarterback to see playing time in the NFL. Prior black players such as Fritz Pollard, Joe Lillard and George Taliaferro had taken snaps at quarterback but were officially listed at other positions[4]
References
- ^ a b c Jane McManus and Jason Reid (2017-04-26). "The NFL's racial divide". Andscape.
- ^ Maki, Allan (May 17, 2018). "Bernie Custis, pro football's first black quarterback, dies at 88". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved February 13, 2019.
- ^ a b Friedman, Samuel G. (February 2, 2018). "The quarterback who paved the way for Colin Kaepernick's protests". The Washington Post. Retrieved February 13, 2019.
- ^ Reid, Jason (October 5, 2017). "Willie Thrower: A perfect name for a trailblazing quarterback". Andscape. Retrieved April 4, 2019.
- ISBN 0-8147-7495-4.
- ^ "Conredge Holloway Jr. and the Barriers He Broke For African Americans". Ryan Crews of The Daily Beacon. 5 February 2020.
- S2CID 148604079.
- ^ Staff, Deadspin (February 6, 2014). "The Big Book Of Black Quarterbacks (Part 2)". Deadspin. Retrieved March 20, 2019.
The 1999 draft was special because it was a banner year for black quarterbacks. Of the 13 taken, eight were African-American. Most of them, like McNabb, Smith, Culpepper, Shaun King, and Aaron Brooks, were seen as dual-threat physical specimens—an evolutionary step beyond weak-armed Kordell Stewart.
- ^ a b Johnson, Martenzie (2017-11-30). "The first black starting quarterback for each NFL team — and how long he lasted". Andscape. Retrieved 2019-09-04.
- ^ "The 2014 Racial and Gender Report Card: National Football League" (PDF). 10 September 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 February 2015. Retrieved 3 February 2015.
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- ^ "Black Quarterbacks Who've Played in the Super Bowl". NBC News. 8 February 2016. Retrieved 3 December 2018.
- ^ Vrentas, Jenny (February 13, 2023) [February 12, 2023]. "Black Quarterbacks in the Super Bowl Reflect Progress and Lost Opportunity". The New York Times. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
- ^ "MVP Patrick Mahomes is now part of the legendary black quarterback fraternity". Andscape. 3 February 2019. Archived from the original on December 11, 2019. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
- ^ Jamison, Hensley (February 2020). "Ravens QB Lamar Jackson unanimous pick for NFL MVP after historic season". ESPN. Archived from the original on February 2, 2020. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
- ^ Dukes, Gamble (2018-12-10). "The 2018 Heisman Quarterback Color Rush Was Long Overdue". The Shadow League. Retrieved 2019-03-20.
- ^ O'Shea, Bridget (29 June 2015). "50 years later, King's speech in Winnetka still resonates". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
- ^ a b c Kimes, Mina (November 2, 2017). "The great Tyrod Taylor debate". ESPN.
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- ^ a b Johnson, Martenzie (September 24, 2018). "Deshaun Watson and the Intellect of Black Quarterbacks". Andscape. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
- ^ Weintraub, Robert (April 24, 2013). "The Original Dual-Threat". SB Nation. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
None of these players were dual-threat guys, or were allowed to be, anyway. Sure, racism was a factor — blacks were presumed not to have the 'faculties' to play the game's most demanding position. And precious few owners were comfortable having a black man as the face of their franchise.
- ^ a b Hruby, Patrick (September 20, 2019). "'We've come so far': how black quarterbacks defied a racist past to become the NFL's future". The Guardian. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
- ^ Clay Travis (April 24, 2017). "NFL Quarterback Wonderlic Scores Matter A Great Deal". Archived from the original on 2017-04-27.
- ^ Austin Tymins and Andrew Fraga (April 23, 2014). "Wondering about the Wonderlic: Does it Predict Quarterback Performance?".
- ^ Josh Millet (2008-04-24). "The Wonderlic as a Predictor of Performance in the NFL".
- ^ Ricardo A. Hazell (25 April 2017). "NFL Draft Wonderlic Leaks Reek Of Racism And Classism". The Shadow League. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
- ^ "Reminder: The NFL's Wonderlic aptitude test is totally worthless". Vox Media. 8 May 2018. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
- ^ Gladwell, Malcolm (December 15, 2008). "Most Likely to Succeed". The New Yorker. Retrieved January 12, 2013.
- ^ "Watch out Wonderlic, there's a new combine test in town". USA Today Sports. 17 February 2013. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
- ^ "NFL pre-draft changes: Teams may lose pick for interview violations, Wonderlic test being dropped, per report". CBSSports.com. 2022-01-05. Retrieved 2022-01-22.
- ^ a b Kimberley A. Martin (26 October 2017). "Tyrod Taylor unfiltered: 'When we win, everything's great. When we lose, they want to crucify me.'". The Buffalo News. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
- ^ a b Reid, Jason (2016-08-25). "The rise and fall and resurgence of Marlin Briscoe". Andscape. Retrieved 2019-09-05.
- ^ "Marlin Briscoe, African American pioneer | Pro Football Hall of Fame Official Site". www.profootballhof.com. Retrieved 2018-10-23.
- ^ Taylor, Phil (July 6, 2015). "Marlin Briscoe". Sports Illustrated. Vol. 123, no. 1. pp. 64–68 – via EBSCOhost.
- ^ Reid, Jason (12 October 2017). "James 'Shack' Harris is prominent on list of groundbreaking quarterbacks". Andscape. Retrieved 25 November 2018.
- ^ Samuel G. Freedman (22 May 2018). "Chuck Knox should be remembered for making James Harris the NFL's first black starting QB". Andscape. Retrieved 25 November 2018.
- ^ Hall, Jason (2021-02-05). "Former NFL Quarterback Opens Up About Rumors He Was Gay". FOX Sports Radio. Retrieved 2021-11-04.
- ^ a b Stewart, Kordell (2021-02-04). ""You Know What I Heard About Kordell Stewart???"". The Players' Tribune. Retrieved 2021-11-04.
- ^ Adams, Biba (2021-02-16). "Kordell Stewart defends sexuality, 'true love' marriage to Porsha Williams". news.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2021-11-04.
- ^ Cook, Ron (2021-02-05). "Ron Cook: Kordell Stewart deserved better during his time with Steelers". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 2021-11-04.
- ^ "McNabb's performance: A Rush to judgment?". ESPN.com. 2003-10-01. Retrieved 2018-10-23.
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- ^ "Deshaun Watson, Jalen Hurts see 'dual-threat QB' in different light". USA Today. January 8, 2017. Retrieved August 24, 2018.
- ^ "Superintendent apologizes for comment about black quarterbacks". Houston Chronicle. 2018-09-17. Retrieved 2018-10-23.
- ^ Bell, Jarrett (2 March 2018). "It's insulting to suggest Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson should switch to wide receiver". USA Today Sports. Retrieved 27 December 2018.
- ^ Richardson, Shandel. "Former Boynton Beach quarterback Lamar Jackson out to silence NFL doubters". Sun-Sentinel.com. Retrieved 2018-10-29.
- ^ Bell, Jarrett (November 6, 2019). "Bill Polian: 'I was wrong' for saying Lamar Jackson should be a wide receiver or running back in NFL". USAToday.com. Retrieved December 28, 2019.
- ^ "Lamar Jackson destroys his critics: 'Not bad for a running back.'". For The Win. 2019-09-08. Retrieved 2020-12-20.
- ^ "Kyler Murray rejoins Cardinals for OTAs amid contract dispute". USA Today. 1 June 2022. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
- ^ "Warren Moon calls Kyler Murray's film study clause a 'slap in the face' to Black quarterbacks". USA Today. 31 July 2022. Retrieved 7 July 2023.