By Lenny Moon
The opportunity for Blacks to play the quarterback position in the National Football League has been a gradual process that came equipped with an innate resistance for the slot referred to as the “field general”. The quarterback is unquestionably the leader of their offense and in most instances the entire team. Blacks have always played the position and excelled as the signal-caller even during the era when a quarterback called their own plays (but not in the NFL). In a society that often doesn’t subscribe to equity (especially in leadership roles), the Black attempting to play the quarterback position constantly collided with the ironclad wall designed to keep them on the outside of it. Fast forward the clock to the third decade of the 21st Century and there were a record 15 of the 32 NFL franchises were led by a Black quarterback on opening day of the 2024 campaign. Collectively five of this contingent has three years of experience or less, with Washington’s Jaden Daniels and Chicago’s Caleb Williams check in as rookies. There are four Heisman Trophy winners in this grouping and two other Finalist. This edition will focus on Part I of the two segment AFC Black Opening Day-starters with Part II-AFC will follow on a future presentation. The AFC quarterbacks presented below are in alphabetical order, with Jacoby Brissett (New England), Lamar Jackson (Baltimore), Patrick Mahomes Jr (Kansas City) and Anthony Richardson (Indianapolis).
Hailing from Palm Beach Gardens, Florida Jacoby JaJuan Brissett evolved as the third best dual-threat prep quarterback from his home state back in 2010. After exploring his options, he opted to remain in Florida and accepted a scholarship offer a four hour drive up Hwy 91 to Gainsville and the University of Florida. After serving as a backup for the Gators his first two collegiate seasons, the 6-4, 230 signal caller transferred to Atlantic Coast Conference member North Carolina State. Honoring the NCAA transfer rule in 2013 by sitting out the entire campaign, Brissett inherited a 3-9 team and flipped it into an 8-5 record throwing for 2,606 yards with 23 TDs passing and 529 rush yards and 3 more TDs. His second year as the Wolfpack starter, Jacoby threw for 2,662 yards completing 60% of his tosses with 20 passing TDs while rushing for 370 yards and 6 TDs. Needless to say, a wise career move as he became a considerably more attractive NFL prospect.
Brissett was drafted by New England in the 3rd round of the 2016 NFL Draft. For the NFL aficionados that was the same year that Pats HOF QB Tom Brady was serving his four game suspension from “Deflategate” when the “G.O.A.T.” was punished for illegally manipulating the PSI of the footballs in a playoff game. Consequently, this occurrence indirectly allowed for Brissett to place his name in the history books of New England football. When Pats then-starting quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (in Brady’s absence) was injured in Week two of that season, Jacoby finished up as his backup in a 31-24 victory over Miami. The history transpired the following week vs the Houston Texans as Brissett became the first African-American signal caller to start in the history of the franchise, defeating the Texans 27-0. Brissett has been a journeyman in the NFL since that time with stints in Indianapolis, Miami, Cleveland, Washington and his current second stint with New England. He earned a championship ring with the Pats as a member of their Super Bowl LI winning team vs Atlanta 34-28 in Houston.
If ever an athlete lived up to the moniker of “lightning-in-a bottle”, this must be attributed to Lamar Demeatrice Jackson Jr. The Boynton Beach, Florida native has always displayed dual threat talents but at the same time, has always had to prove himself at the quarterback position. After proving himself at the prep level while engineering a run option-type attack on the 6-A level at Boynton Beach High, Jackson entered collegiate football consideration ranked as high as #12 in the double-barrel category. Although he received Division I offers from such schools as Florida, Auburn and Clemson it was Louisville head coach Bobby Petrino that assured him that he would be brought in to play “quarterback only”. Well Coach Petrino, great decision!!. From the time Jackson migrated from the state of Florida to Kentucky (Louisville), shall we say he hit the ground running.
As a freshman, the mercurial signal caller started eight of their twelve games passing for 1,840 yards with 12 TDs and rushed for 960 yards and 11 TDs for the 8-5 Cardinals squad. He capped his inaugural campaign on the collegiate level by earning MVP of the 2015 Music City Bowl passing for 227 yards with two TDs and rushing for that bowl’s record 226 yards and two more TDs. If his coming out party didn’t impress you, Jackson was only getting started. To mention a few of his sophomore highlights:
vs #2 Florida State-216 passing with a TD/ 146 yards rushing with 4 TDs in 63-20 win
vs Marshall- 417 yards passing with 5 TDs/ 62 yards rushing with 2 TDs
vs #5 Clemson- 295 yards passing with a TD / 162 yards rushing with 2 TDs
On December 10, 2016 Jackson became the first gridder in Louisville’s history to win the Heisman Trophy and the youngest winner EVER at 19 years and 337 days. All told, he led his Louisville team to a 9-4 record while passing for 3.543 yards and 30 TDs accompanied by 1,571 rushing yards and a whopping 21 TDs. Lamar would play one more collegiate campaign where he tossed for 3,660 yards and 27 TDs along with 1,601 yards and 18 TDs prior to making himself eligible for the 2018 NFL Draft.
Despite his Heisman Trophy collegiate credentials, Jackson was still deemed by a host of NFL entities as more as an athlete that could be parlayed to other skill positions rather than what he actually was an “athletic quarterback”. When the establishment had gotten wind that Lamar was steadfast in his position of not compromising his QB status for their convenience, he fell to the fifth quarterback selected in the 2018 NFL Draft by the Baltimore Ravens (who actually traded up with the Eagles) and 32nd overall in the 1st round. It’s no coincidence that Ravens General Manager at the time was Hall of Fame (TE) Ozzie Newsome that was able to see Jackson through slightly different lenses. At press time, Jackson was a finalist for his third NFL MVP Award and for some strange reason, this author thinks that when it comes to Lamar the best is yet to come.
On September 17th back in 1995 in a small north East Texas town of 8,000 citizens located 10 miles southeast of Tyler, born was one of the greatest football players the game of professional football has ever witnessed. Patrick Lavon Mahomes Jr, the son of a former major league pitcher possesses perhaps the most complete package of the skills that benefit a premium quarterback on the highest level. He is so lethal behind center that in the event a called play breaks down, opposing defenses are still on edge due to his ability to execute “off script” plays with regularity. Mahomes has introduced a distinctive ambidextrous ability, creating innovative ways to keep plays alive either by changing hands to launch his tosses (while in the grasp of defenders) or the basketball chest pass at times, even while being tackled. And if all else fails, he’s highly adept at utilizing his legs at seemingly critical times to keep the chains moving while poking holes in the defense.
Mahomes Jr was drafted with the 10th pick of the 1st round of the 2017 NFL Draft by the Kansas City Chiefs, becoming the first 1st round quarterback selected by the team in 34 years. Beginning his NFL career as the number two QB behind incumbent Alex Smith, the Texas Tech product patiently awaited his turn to inherit the reins. That turned out to be an abbreviated wait as K.C. traded Smith during that following offseason handing the keys over to the then second year player. With only one official NFL start under his belt, Mahomes started all 16 of his team’s regular season contests and proved that management’s decision was on point. Patrick arrived on the scene like a tornado, destroying everything in his path. His 5,097 yards passing and 50 TDs led the league, while completing 66% of his tosses. The Chiefs finished with a 12-4 slate and the first of seven consecutive Mahomes-led AFC Championship Game appearances.
The rest as they say can be found in the history books (with Patrick’s name attached to it). If the Chiefs reign supreme at the conclusion of the 2024 campaign (2025 NFL Playoffs), Mahomes would become the first quarterback in the storied history of the National Football League to lead his team to three consecutive Super Bowl victories. Entering the current NFL season, the East Texas native had led his team to the mountaintop in SB-54, SB-57 and SB-58 earning the MVP in all three of those championship encounters. At 29 years of age, the rifled-arm signal caller is on course to join and/or unseat Tom Brady, universally known as the G.O.A.T. aka “Greatest of All Time” at the quarterback position. He’s shown that he can function with a quality contingent as well as a talent deficient squad and remain a contender year after year.
Listed at 6-4, 244 pounds Gainesville, Florida native Anthony Dashawn Richardson has been deemed a “raw” but potentially potent force at the quarterback position. Following his stint at Gainesville’s Eastside High, Richardson emerged as one of the top dual threat QBs in his talent-rich state (4,633 passing/ 37 TDs, 1,633 rushing/ 41 TDs [78 total TDs] and opted to remain close to home by accepting the offer to attend the University of Florida in 2020. His first two seasons as a Gator resulted in a red-shirt first season and only a single start his second season there during the 2021 football schedule. He officially became the starting quarterback that next season (2022) leading the team to a modest 6-6 record while posting 2,549 yards passing with 17 TDs complimented by 654 rushing yards and 9 TDs in 12 games. The takeaway from scouts was a relatively inexperience talent with a big arm, excellent ball carrier with an anatomy that favored all-pro freight train [RB] Derrick Henry (now of the Baltimore Ravens).
Following his only full season of collegiate football as a starter, Richardson declared for the 2023 NFL Draft. Indianapolis thought enough of his “upside” that they selected him with the 4th pick of the 2023 NFL Draft (preceded by QB-Bryce Young, QB-C.J. Stroud and LB-Will Anderson). The multi-talented signal caller came out of training camp as QB-1. Once the regular season began in game one, the newly inserted starter began asserting himself immediately vs Jacksonville with his first NFL passing TD, 223 yards passing and also scored a rushing touchdown. Misfortune would occur during Week 2 when he encountered a concussion vs the Texans while scoring his second rushing TD of that contest. All told, Anthony’s rookie campaign would be limited to 4 games played (all starts) with 7 total TDs and completing 60% of his tosses. The most recently concluded 2024 season, Richardson started all 11 games that he played, while showing flashes of what he’s capable of but still riding the roller-coaster up and down ride at this early stage of his NFL career. He still threw for over 1,800 yards and 8 TDs and almost 500 yards and 6 TDs to go along with the negatives of 12 interceptions and completing 48% of his passes. The Colts were plus .500 during his 11 starts posting a 6-5 record. In summary, the Anthony Richardson profile is one that’s worth betting on. Inexperience is a factor, not having that glossy collegiate resume like Young, Stroud and others. But at only 22 years of age and already proven that he has the capacity for the spectacular, Richardson bears worthy of the investment; especially in the modern National Football League.
We’ll conclude the “Evolution of the Black QB in the NFL” series in our next session serving as Part IV-AFC Edition (2). Featured will be Houston’s C.J. Stroud, Pittsburgh’s Russell Wilson and Cleveland’s DeShaun Watson. You’ll want to be certain to look out for the closing narrative of this series.
