The Chiefs and Eagles win at AFC and NFC the title game proved to be a historic moment for the NFL.
With teams led by Patrick Mahomes and Jalen Hurts advancing to Super Bowl 57, the league will see its first game between Black quarterbacks in big game history—a milestone that those who follow the sport will never forget.
That included Hall of Famer Warren Moon, the pioneering quarterback whose outstanding performances in the Canadian Football League (1978-83) and NFL (1984-2000) discredited the racist notion that only white players could succeed in the position.
I am so proud to see Jalen and Patrick as the first 2 African American QBs to face each other in the Super Bowl!
We have come a long way. 🙌🏽
—Warren Moon (@WMoon1) January 30, 2023
The 2023 Super Bowl will be the first to feature two Black quarterbacks, 55 years after Marlin Briscoe became the first Black starting quarterback for the AFL Broncos in 1968 and 35 years after Washington’s Doug Williams became the first Black QB to start and win a Super Bowl, in 1988. .
Indeed, Williams reportedly holding back tears as he spoke about the upcoming historic game between the Mahomes’ Chiefs and Hurts’ Eagles:
“That’s what I’m talking about! Yes! Yes! We had two Black quarterbacks in the Super Bowl!” Williams told ESPN’s Jason Reid by phone. “Jesus, after Jalen won earlier, I pulled Patrick. I’m sitting here with pins and needles to see if that will happen.
“I have that kind of smile on my face right now, but my eyes are also filled with tears. I’m talking, but I don’t think I can even explain what this means. We have come such a long way. It was very difficult, so many obstacles, but we made it. Two Black quarterbacks in the Super Bowl!”
It’s fitting that Mahomes and Hurts are NFL MVP candidates who have been a driving force for their team’s success this season. Both the Chiefs and Eagles entered Super Bowl 57 on February 12 with a 16-3 record.
Mahomes has completed 67.1 percent of his passes for 5,250 yards and 41 touchdowns to 12 interceptions in the regular season, adding 358 rushing yards and four touchdowns. Hurts has a 66.5 completion percentage, 3,701 yards and a 22-6 touchdown intercept rate. He also had 760 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns.
Here are examples of athletes around the sporting world reacting to the first Black quarterback game in the Super Bowl:
AGAIN: Jalen Hurts displayed elite running ability as the Eagles clinched a spot in the Super Bowl
It’s crazy that this will be the first Super Bowl with 2 Black QBs starting.
— Desmond Howard (@DesmondHoward) January 30, 2023
What a historic moment, this will be the first time the two Black starting quarterbacks will face each other in the Super Bowl, and they are both leading candidates for NFL MVP! I can’t wait to watch!
—Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) January 30, 2023
Two Black QBs in the Super Bowl 🔥 pic.twitter.com/eUJH7PebdR
— Will Blackmon 🍷 (@WillBlackmon) January 30, 2023
The Super Bowl will feature Black’s two starting QBs for the first time. If you want to fully understand its importance, you have to read on @JReidESPNvery good book “The Rise of the Black Quarterback.”
Great read on how we got here & why it matters.
— Patrick Allen (@RPatrickAllen) January 30, 2023
enters Black History Month with TWO Black QBs in the Super Bowl >
– Ashley Nicole Moss (@AshNicoleMoss) January 30, 2023
For the first time:
1️⃣ Black’s two starting QBs will face each other in the Super Bowl.
2️⃣ Black female agent (@AgentNicoleLynn) will represent the NFL QB (@JalenHurts) in the Super Bowls
— Kimberley A. Martin (@ByKimberleyA) January 30, 2023
16 years after Tony Dungy & Lovie Smith made history by becoming the first two black head coaches to face off in a Super Bowl, Jalen Hurts and Patrick Mahomes became the first two Black starting QBs to face off in a Super Bowl. Gloryyy pic.twitter.com/ppYTB0OJjM
— Chris Williamson (@CWilliamson44) January 30, 2023
2 black QBs in the Super Bowl. The first time. Glorious. Progress. Don’t let anyone tell you it doesn’t matter!
— Taylor Rooks (@TaylorRooks) January 30, 2023
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