Who was the first black NFL quarter-back? That is a very interesting question and the response seems to depend greatly on who you ask. You will hear names like Briscoe and Harris, Williams and Thrower but were any of them really the first black QB? Let's do a little research.
Some are convinced that the correct answer is the one and only Willie Thrower. He played for the Chicago bears in mid October of 1953. It was his first and last game. He never appeared in another game and it would be 15 years before another African-American would take a snap in a pro game. But is this historically correct? Others think it was a man named Joe Guilliam, known as Jefferson Street Joe not until the early 70s. Joe even has a web page dedicated to him with this honor and both are often credited with the title of the first black quarter back. But had there really been no one before these players?
Due to racial attitudes of the time it seems that while black players were allowed to play not many were given starting positions, and while all of the previous mentioned players do have their roles in the history of black quarter backs, and it is accurate to say that Briscoe was the first to start a game. He played for as a QB for the Denver Broncos in 1968. Time lines and history tell us that it would not be until 1974 for a black player to start a playoff game. His name was James Harris and he played for the Los Angeles Rams. It would be fourteen years before Doug Williams would be the first to start and win a championship for the Washington Redskins in 1988.
What is the best and most accurate response? The correct answer would have to be none of the above with the correct response dating back much further than common misconception.
In fact, Fritz Pollard is the correct response. He played quarterback way back in the early 20s for a team known as the Hammond Pros. Frederick Douglass "Fritz" Pollard was born in 1894 in Rogers Park, Ill., a Chicago Suburb. He was one of eight children. Pollard graduated from Lane high School in Chicago where he ran track and later went on to play college football at Brown University. In 1915 as a freshman, he led Brown to the Rose Bowl vs. Washington State. He was also the first African American to play in a Rose Bowl. Among other accomplishments in the spring of 1916, he set a world record in low hurdles for the Brown University track team, qualifying for the Olympic team. Also in 1916 he led Brown to an 8-1 record with 12 touchdowns. He was the first African American head coach in the NFL. He also organized the first inter-racial all-star game in Chicago to showcase African American players. "Frtiz" Pollard died in 1986 at the age of 92.
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