February marks Black History Month. Follow the AJC this month for a series of short stories and videos and people, places and events that played a significant role in the development of black people in America.
No. 7
Doug Williams: On Jan. 31, 1988 in Super Bowl XXII Doug Williams became the first black quarterback ever to start a Super Bowl when he led the Washington Redskins in a 42-10 rout over the same Denver Broncos that Cam Newton tried to best. Arguably, it was the greatest game a quarterback had ever had in the Super Bowl. Williams, a graduate of the HBCU Grambling State University, threw for 340 yards. In the second quarter alone, Williams completed 9 of 11 passes for 228 yards and 4 touchdowns. Williams retired from the NFL in 1989 and went on to succeed his mentor, Eddie Robinson, as Grambling’s head coach. Russell Wilson became the second black quarterback to win a Super Bowl when he led the Seattle Seahawks to a 43-8 victory in Super Bowl XLVIII over the, hmmmm, Denver Broncos. Notice a pattern?
Credit: Reed Saxon
Credit: Reed Saxon
