By Kelvin Butler
UNIVERSITY CENTER – There’s a lot of talk about how black quarterbacks are not as smart or arm-talented as white quarterbacks. Three quarterbacks changed that narrative, and quickly, starting in the mid-1980s where the first generation of black quarterbacks emerged and set the NFL ablaze.
Doug Williams, Randall Cunningham and Warren Moon started in the 1980s. They demonstrated that African Americans are capable of leading a team to success and even to Super Bowl victories. But, most importantly and unjustly, two of these players are all but forgotten since they played in an era with legendary players. In the pre-social media age, they were overshadowed with sparse sports coverage on only local news stations, newspapers and ESPN.
Doug Williams
Doug Williams broke two records and set two milestones for the Washington Redskins in Super Bowl XXII in 1988, according to NFL.com. He became the first quarterback to throw for four touchdowns and he also threw for 340 yards in a 42-10 win, becoming the first African American quarterback to win a Super Bowl. Williams was also awarded Super Bowl MVP that year.
Randall “Starship 12” Cunningham
Cunningham was the first dual-threat quarterback or mobile, as many people call it now. Granted, he wasn’t as well-known as Lamar Jackson or Michael Vick, but it was a notable part of his game back when he was really hot in the late 1980s with the Philadelphia Eagles. He got lost in the shuffle of John Elway, Dan Marino and Joe Mantana and was forgotten about as one of the most impactful players in the game.
Warren Moon
Then there’s the one and only Warren Moon, who was the first African American quarterback to be inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame. His prime was spent with the Houston Oilers, now known as the Tennessee Titans. In his 10-year career with the Oilers, he took them to the playoffs consistently, which few quarterbacks can say. His career longevity was never seen from a quarterback of his race, having 12 consecutive, productive years with his respective teams before becoming a backup quarterback in the NFL.
Those are the first generation of African American quarterbacks who opened up the door for so many players. Hopefully, the NFL and fans will never forget the impact they had on the league and the lives of future players.
