Photos: Wikimedia Commons
Nearly half of all NFL teams are expected to start a Black quarterback in Week 1 of the new season for the first time in history.
Fourteen of 32 teams will have a Black signal caller projected to start, breaking the record of 11 from last season.
The Black quarterbacks expected to start for their teams include Justin Fields of the Chicago Bears, Jalen Hurts of the Philadelphia Eagles, Lamar Jackson of the Baltimore Ravens, Russell Wilson of the Denver Broncos, Dak Prescott of the Dallas Cowboys, Deshaun Watson of the Cleveland Browns, Geno Smith of the Seattle Seahawks, Jordan Love of the Green Bay Packers, Desmond Ridder of the Atlanta Falcons, Joshua Dobbs of the Arizona Cardinals, Bryce Young of the Carolina Panthers, C.J. Stroud of the Houston Texans, Anthony Richardson of the Indianapolis Colts.
A week to remember in NFL history 👏 pic.twitter.com/ZhgPrs4nRj
— NFL (@NFL) September 9, 2023
For the NFL’s Thursday night kickoff, Super Bowl Champion quarterback Patrick Mahomes started for the Kansas City Chiefs.
This benchmark is striking, considering the obstacles and racism many Black athletes faced in attempting to play quarterback professionally.
This distinction also comes on the heels of another historic moment in Black quarterbacking history: the Ravens having the first and only all-Black quarterback room in NFL history.
The Ravens are the only NFL team with an entirely Black quarterback room.
It shows progress for a league that turned Black people away from the position for decades.
It's also a stark reminder of those never given a chance, writes @krisrhim1. https://t.co/aXXDEdUjkl pic.twitter.com/oLEIYhp2Un
— Baltimore Banner Sports (@AllBannerSports) August 20, 2023
