Black players in professional American football
Charles Follis began receiving pay for playing football in 1899. He played for the Shelby Blues from 1902 until 1906. This moment marks the earliest known instance of a black professional football player earning money for his athletic skills. The roots of professionalism trace back to the 1890s when clubs first started paying players. Before this era, athletes competed without direct financial compensation. Follis stood out as a two-sport athlete who broke barriers early on. His career laid groundwork for future generations despite limited opportunities available at that time.
By 1934 no black players remained in the National Football League. George Preston Marshall became the chief instigator of segregation within the league. He refused to sign any black athletes to his Boston Braves or Washington Redskins teams. The Great Depression created economic hardship that owners used to justify excluding black players. White team owners claimed it would look bad if African Americans worked while many white people lacked jobs. An informal agreement among owners kept black players out of the NFL from 1934 through 1945. Only two black players existed in the league during 1933 before they left voluntarily or were forced out. Harold Bradley Sr. played one season with the Chicago Cardinals in 1928. Phil Scott started at end position for the Orange Tornadoes in 1929. Dave Myers played for the Staten Island Stapletons in 1930 and Brooklyn Dodgers in 1931.
The Los Angeles Rams signed Kenny Washington on the 21st of March 1946. This decision came after legal threats regarding public stadium funding. Members of the African American print media reminded the Los Angeles Coliseum commission that the NFL had no African American players. They pointed out that the stadium was supported by public funds. The commission had to abide by an 1896 Supreme Court decision known as Plessy v Ferguson. It could not lease the stadium to a segregated team. The commission advised the Rams they must integrate their team with at least one African American player. Washington had been out of college for seven years when he joined the Rams. He retired after three seasons but opened doors for future black players. Woody Strode became the second black player added to the Rams roster on the 7th of May 1946. No other team followed suit until Detroit Lions signed Mel Groomes and Bob Mann in 1948.
The All-America Football Conference formed in 1946 and integrated faster than the NFL. Cleveland Browns signed Marion Motley and Bill Willis in 1946. By 1950 six of eight AAFC teams had signed black players. Most did so during the league's second season in 1947. Tommy Hughitt served as a lead official who aggressively penalized unsportsmanlike conduct motivated by racism. Only three of ten NFL teams signed black players before 1950. Green Bay Packers followed in 1950 while most others waited until 1952. Every team except Marshall's Redskins had signed a black player by that time. The AFL merged with the NFL in 1970 bringing together more tolerant policies. After the merger over thirty percent of all players were African American. Black players faced discrimination yet formed a significant part of the league despite obstacles.
Marlin Briscoe became the first black regular starting quarterback of the modern era. He played for the Denver Broncos in the American Football League. Willie Thrower was a backup quarterback who saw action in the 1950s for Chicago Bears. Gene Mingo served as the first black placekicker in U.S. professional football though he primarily played running back. Joe Perry won United Press International recognition as NFL Most Valuable Player in 1954. Walt Frazier chose basketball over football believing he had no future as a black quarterback. By October 2018 George Taliaferro died at age ninety-one. He was the first African American selected via the NFL draft process. In Week One of the 2020 season ten quarterbacks with known Black African ancestry started games. This included Cam Newton Teddy Bridgewater Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes among others.
At the start of the 2014 season surveys showed the league was sixty-eight point seven percent African American. Non-Hispanic white players made up twenty-eight point six percent of rosters. The remaining two point seven percent comprised Asian Pacific Islander non-white Hispanics or those preferring another category. Cornerback positions have been played almost exclusively by black players since Jason Sehorn's final season ended in 2002. Troy Apke switched from free safety to cornerback in 2021 ending any white presence at that position. No white running back rushed for one thousand yards between Craig James in 1985 and Peyton Hillis in 2010. Toby Gerhart's alleged race influenced why four running backs were drafted ahead of him in 2010. Whites slightly outnumber blacks on offensive lines yet centers remain eighty-two percent white. Only one starting kicker was black out of thirty-two in 2013. Two African American punters existed that year including Reggie Hodges and Marquette King.
Art Shell became the first black head coach in the NFL since the player-coach era ended in 1989. He took over the Los Angeles Raiders. Dennis Green followed three years later leading the Minnesota Vikings. An affirmative action policy called the Rooney Rule implemented in 2003 required teams to interview racial minorities for head coaching roles. Since 2009 it also applies to senior management and player personnel positions. The league has never had a black franchise owner. It rejected Rommie Loudd's Orlando Suns expansion bid twice. Reggie Fowler's attempt to buy the Minnesota Vikings also failed due to inflated wealth claims. Only two owners are of non-European descent: Kim Pegula of Buffalo Bills and Shahid Khan of Jacksonville Jaguars. Marshall quipped about signing Negroes when Harlem Globetrotters started signing whites before finally integrating his team in 1962. Bobby Mitchell joined the Redskins along with two other African Americans that year.
Common questions
Who was the first black professional football player to receive pay?
Charles Follis began receiving pay for playing football in 1899. He played for the Shelby Blues from 1902 until 1906 and marks the earliest known instance of a black professional football player earning money for his athletic skills.
When did the last black players leave the National Football League before integration?
By 1934 no black players remained in the National Football League due to an informal agreement among owners that kept them out through 1945. George Preston Marshall became the chief instigator of segregation within the league by refusing to sign any black athletes to his Boston Braves or Washington Redskins teams.
Which team signed Kenny Washington on the 21st of March 1946?
The Los Angeles Rams signed Kenny Washington on the 21st of March 1946 after legal threats regarding public stadium funding. Members of the African American print media reminded the Los Angeles Coliseum commission that the NFL had no African American players and pointed out that the stadium was supported by public funds.
How many black quarterbacks started games in Week One of the 2020 season?
In Week One of the 2020 season ten quarterbacks with known Black African ancestry started games including Cam Newton Teddy Bridgewater Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes. Marlin Briscoe became the first black regular starting quarterback of the modern era while playing for the Denver Broncos in the American Football League.
When did Art Shell become the first black head coach in the NFL since the player-coach era ended in 1989?
Art Shell became the first black head coach in the NFL since the player-coach era ended in 1989 when he took over the Los Angeles Raiders. An affirmative action policy called the Rooney Rule implemented in 2003 required teams to interview racial minorities for head coaching roles.