Week 2 Was a Historic Moment for Black NFL Quarterbacks
Black NFL quarterbacks made history during the first week of the NFL season. 10 Black quarterbacks started in Week 1, and it was the most in a season opener in NFL history.
Week 2 was another historic week for Black quarterbacks. It was the most games between Black starting quarterbacks in a single week in NFL history.
The NFL is filled with talented Black quarterbacks
If you look at the teams in the league, Black quarterbacks are making names for themselves. The 2019 season was a big year for the Black quarterbacks. Lamar Jackson won the MVP award, and Patrick Mahomes won a Super Bowl. When you look back at recent Black quarterbacks who had success in the league, names like Michael Vick, Donovan McNabb, and Doug Williams. Now the league is filled with talented Black quarterbacks who have been in the league for a while and have been in the league a few years.
Kyler Murray was the No. 1 pick in the 2019 NFL draft, and he’s starting to make a name for himself in his second NFL season. Other young Black quarterbacks are starting to establish themselves as well. Dwayne Haskins of the Washington Football Team is looking to succeed and turn the team into a playoff contender. Then you have the quarterbacks that have been in the league for numerous years and are getting their opportunity as starters like Tyrod Taylor of the LA Chargers and Teddy Bridgewater of the Carolina Panthers.
You can’t forget about the superstar quarterbacks like Jackson, Mahomes, and Deshaun Watson. Two of the NFL’s top-paid players are Black quarterbacks (Mahomes and Watson). The Black quarterbacks in the league now are the motivation for the young quarterbacks in high school and college when they see them having success in the NFL, which gives them hope.
Who faced off in Week 2?
Four games featured Black quarterbacks battling against each other. You had Patrick Mahomes vs. Deshaun Watson, Cam Newton vs. Russell Wilson, Patrick Mahomes vs. Tyrod Taylor, and Dwayne Haskins vs. Kyler Murray. Taylor was set to start the game against the Kansas City Chiefs, but he experienced chest pains before the game and was taken to the hospital.
Still, on paper, four games featured Black quarterbacks battling each other. Previously the most games that featured Black quarterbacks going up against each other were three in 2013. That number could grow in the future.
The future of Black quarterbacks
For years, Black quarterbacks were ridiculed by many people, and they did not think that the quarterbacks could not have success in the NFL. Well, they certainly proved those doubters wrong. Whether it’s the NFL, college, high school, or even youth football, you will see Black quarterbacks playing at a high level.
Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes are paving the way for those up and coming Black quarterbacks. When they are retired, there will be a new list of Black quarterbacks that people will be talking about, and that will continue down the line. Black quarterbacks are establishing themselves in the NFL, and there will be more history made in the future.
