Hochman: 'Revolution.' Black NFL quarterbacks are starting and starring at record rates

Updated Oct. 31, 2024, 11 a.m. by By Benjamin Hochman St. Louis Post-Dispatch 1 min read
NCAAF News

A record fell this fall.

In the first week of NFL games, 15 starting quarterbacks were Black the most-ever to begin a season.

Some of you might say why is this a topic? That could be because you dont think the topic, in 2024, is an issue anymore.

Or it could be because you dont want to discuss race in sports.

But acknowledging progress is important.

There are still people out there who think negatively about Blacks playing quarterback.

And so, every win by Lamar Jackson or Jalen Hurts or C.J.

Stroud or Jayden Daniels is a statement or, if anything, a step toward full acceptance and appreciation.

And in recent weeks, a new book and documentary have detailed the journey.

The book, by professor Louis Moore, is called The Great Black Hope: Doug Williams, Vince Evans, and the Making of the Black Quarterback.

And the documentary, streaming on Amazon Prime, is Evolution of The Black Quarterback.

In this documentary, the actor and rapper Common shared this sentiment: When I hear the term Black quarterback, I think of revolution.

I think of progress.

I think of change.

Black power, in a way a representation of Black leadership.

And I say progress because the NFL, much like America, didnt see Black men as being leaders that it takes to be a quarterback.

Thats been the change weve been able to see.

In his book, Moore wanted to highlight Evans and Williams the first Black quarterback to win Super Bowl MVP because these two men were both trailblazers and mind-changers.

NFL quarterback is the most important position of all sports, and thats partly why Black quarterbacks were kept out, said Moore the author of books about sports and the civil rights movement by phone on Monday.

And so, for this position, for a lot of Black Americans, its more than just like two guys playing its really their lives, right? Because they feel left out of society.

They have all these qualifications, yet I cant get hired or I cant move up the ranks in this business job.

...

So its really about leadership and opportunity.

Embarrassingly, the NFL has also had issues regarding another type of Black leader head coaches.

In 2022, former Dolphins coach Brian Flores actually filed a lawsuit against the NFL he alleged discrimination and a lack of effort to hire minority coaches.

This past offseason, though, four minorities head coaches were hired.

That put the league at nine.

And while thats the most in history, its still not even close to half.

As for quarterbacks, an investigation last fall from SFGATE.com showed that more could have be done, too.

From 2010 to 2022, the report stated, teams were chronically underrating Black quarterbacks in the draft.

Bringing light to the issues is important.

Changing perceptions and growing acceptance is imperative.

A historic occasion occurred in the Super Bowl for the 2022 season two Black quarterbacks started the game (Philadelphias Hurts and Kansas Citys Patrick Mahomes).

Very cool moment.

But also eye-opening is that it took 57 Super Bowls for it to happen.

That month, I interviewed some high school Black quarterbacks it was powerful to hear how meaningful seeing Black quarterbacks was for them.

Representation is inspiration.

And then look at the rise of Lamar and his continued success, right? Moore said of Baltimores Jackson, who leads the NFL in passer rating this year (115.4) and is second in touchdowns thrown (17), along with 501 rushing yards for the 5-3 Ravens.

Its not just that Lamar did it one year.

He has two MVPs.

And looks like hes on his way to a third MVP.

Moore pointed out that the evolution of college football offenses have helped Black quarterbacks.

In the past, there were run-heavy offenses such as the wishbone or triple-option.

So that Black quarterback was there on Saturday, but not there on Sunday, Moore said.

Because those offenses werent there on Sunday.

And through his research, Moore also cautioned the fear of Black quarterbacks getting benched too early in their careers.

Obviously, each situation is its own situation.

But he pointed out Bryce Young and Justin Fields this season.

An argument could be made, at least in rebuilding Carolina, that Young could learn on the job.

The stuff that comes up is: Heres your opportunity, but youve got to be perfect, Moore said.

One of the quotes I use in the books introduction comes from a sports columnist, Jim Murray, who used to be at the LA Times.

He said in the 70s, The Black quarterback is like a member of a bomb squad.

You only get one mistake.

But the good news the encouraging and nourishing news is that many Black quarterbacks are thriving today in a league in which, a generation prior, they didnt get as many opportunities..

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