Honestly, if you ask a casual fan who the first Black quarterback in the NFL was, they usually pause. Maybe they’ll guess Doug Williams because of that massive Super Bowl win in the eighties. Or perhaps they’ll name a modern star like Patrick Mahomes or Lamar Jackson. But the real history is way messier than a single name on a trivia card.
It’s a story of "firsts" that kept having to be repeated because the league kept hitting the reset button on progress.
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We aren't just talking about one guy. We’re talking about a handful of pioneers who broke the same door down over and over again because the NFL kept trying to lock it behind them. You’ve got the pre-war trailblazers, the mid-century "brief appearances," and the 1968 explosion that finally made the position stick.
The Pioneer You’ve Probably Never Heard Of
Most people think this history starts in the sixties. It doesn't. You have to go all the way back to the beginning of the league.
Fritz Pollard was the guy. In 1920—basically at the dawn of professional football—Pollard played quarterback for the Akron Pros. He wasn't just a player; he was a coach-player, leading his team to a championship. But here is the kicker: after guys like Pollard and Joe Lillard (who played for the Chicago Cardinals in the early 30s), the NFL essentially entered a "secret" era of segregation.
From 1933 to 1946, Black players were effectively banned from the league.
When the "color barrier" was finally broken again after World War II, the quarterback position remained the most guarded gate in sports. Teams were fine with Black athletes playing running back or defensive end, but the "thinking" position? That was a different story.
Willie Thrower and the 1953 "Glitch"
If you're looking for the first Black quarterback to actually take a snap in a modern NFL game, that’s Willie Thrower.
The year was 1953. Thrower was a backup for the Chicago Bears. On October 18, against the San Francisco 49ers, coach George Halas actually put him in. He went 3-of-8 for 27 yards. It wasn't a world-beating performance, but it was history.
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And then? Nothing.
Thrower was released soon after. He never got another shot in the NFL and ended up heading to Canada to play in the CFL. This became a common theme: Black quarterbacks who were stars in college were told they had to switch to wide receiver or defensive back if they wanted to make an NFL roster. If they refused, they were out.
Marlin Briscoe: The Magician Who Forced the Issue
If Willie Thrower opened the door, Marlin Briscoe was the one who kicked it off the hinges in 1968.
Briscoe, nicknamed "The Magician," was drafted by the Denver Broncos. Like everyone else, the Broncos told him he was going to be a defensive back. Briscoe wasn't having it. He had been a star QB at Omaha University and insisted on a trial at his natural position.
Why 1968 Was the Turning Point
The Broncos were struggling. Their starter got hurt. On September 29, 1968, Briscoe entered the game. A week later, he became the first Black quarterback to start a game in the modern era (AFL/NFL).
He was electric. He threw 14 touchdown passes that year, which stood as a Broncos rookie record for decades until some guy named John Elway eventually showed up.
But even after that record-breaking season, Denver didn't want him at quarterback. They didn't even invite him to quarterback meetings the next year. Briscoe eventually asked for his release and ended up becoming a Pro Bowl wide receiver for the Buffalo Bills and a two-time Super Bowl champ with the Miami Dolphins. It’s a bit bittersweet, isn't it? He was one of the best young QBs in the league, and he was forced to change positions just to keep a job.
James Harris and the "Full-Time" Breakthrough
Right after Briscoe, James "Shack" Harris arrived. If Briscoe was the first to start a game, Harris was the first to be the designated "starter" coming out of camp for the Buffalo Bills in 1969.
Harris faced an uphill battle that's hard to even imagine today. We're talking about death threats, hate mail, and teammates who wouldn't look him in the eye.
- 1969: Harris starts the season opener for Buffalo.
- 1974: Now with the Los Angeles Rams, he becomes the first Black QB to win a playoff game.
- 1975: He makes the Pro Bowl and is named the game's MVP.
Harris didn't just play; he succeeded. He proved that a Black quarterback could lead a winning team over a full season, which was the specific stereotype owners were clinging to at the time.
Doug Williams and the Super Bowl Ceiling
We can't talk about the first Black quarterback in the NFL without mentioning Doug Williams. While he wasn't the first to play or start, he shattered the final "big" barrier.
Super Bowl XXII. January 31, 1988.
The Washington Redskins were playing the Denver Broncos. Leading up to the game, the media circus was relentless. Williams was asked every variation of "how does it feel to be a Black quarterback in the Super Bowl?"
He went out and put on arguably the greatest single-quarter performance in football history. In the second quarter alone, Williams threw four touchdowns. He finished with 340 yards and the MVP trophy. That game basically ended the "can they win the big one?" argument forever.
Why This History Still Matters Today
It's easy to look at the league now, with Mahomes, Lamar, and Jalen Hurts dominating, and think this is all ancient history. But it wasn't that long ago.
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The New York Giants—a flagship franchise—didn't start a Black quarterback until 2017. That’s wild.
The "Black quarterback" label is finally starting to fade into just "quarterback," which is what guys like Briscoe and Harris wanted all along. They didn't want to be pioneers; they wanted to play the position they were best at.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans and Historians
If you want to really understand this legacy beyond just the names, here is how to dive deeper:
- Watch the Tape: Look up highlights of Marlin Briscoe's 1968 season. His mobility and arm strength were twenty years ahead of his time.
- Research the "Position Switch": Look at the college careers of 1970s and 80s stars like Drew Pearson or Freddie Solomon. Many were elite quarterbacks in college who were never given a single NFL snap at the position.
- Support the Hall of Fame: Visit or look into the Black College Football Hall of Fame, co-founded by James Harris and Doug Williams. It houses the real stories of the guys who kept the flame alive when the NFL wouldn't.
The history of the first Black quarterback in the NFL isn't a straight line. It’s a series of jumps and starts, driven by men who refused to be told they weren't smart enough or "leader-like" enough to hold the ball. Next time you see a dual-threat QB make a crazy play on Sunday, remember it started with a "Magic Box" in Omaha and a guy named Willie Thrower who just wanted to see if his arm was good enough for the big leagues.