The era of black high school athletics saw many outstanding athletes who
received minimal visibility in the press. As the “black mecca” of the South, Atlanta
has produced a few outstanding athletes...
Earning a roster spot in 1964 for the University of Pittsburgh football team had to feel like a dream come true for Ed James, the talented quarterback from New Castle High (New Castle, PA) who became the Panthers first black quarterback
Harold Davis was a superb athlete who hailed from North Side High School in Youngstown, OH. An all around athlete who played multiple sports. As a football player, he had the athletic skills to run and throw the football, in addition to being an outstanding basketball player in the early 1950’s.
In 1985, Colorado University football changed its offensive to a wishbone style scheme. The quarterback that was able to operate it with proficiency between 1985-1987 was a converted halfback named
Mark Hatcher.
Established in 1940, the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) has been the platform for many small collegiate programs to receive recognition for their athletic programs
The football talent pool at HBCU’s became more highlighted and well
documented in the decade of the 1960s. While many positions were
drafted or free agents for the teams in both the NFL
Many black quarterbacks have been acknowledged for being the first at their alma mater, some have gone on to have well publicized college & professional careers, while others have often been flying under the radar.
A native of Compton, CA, and former quarterback for Compton High, Herb
Singleton’s legacy is little known, and his overall football career was brief, however, when his opportunities were available, he delivered.
Since the inception of the Arena Football League in 1987 until the league’s demise
in 2019, this professional league has had hundreds of quarterbacks to play
With an ongoing trend of not drafting black quarterbacks, the National Football League was not in the future for former Texas Longhorn star quarterback James Brown, while his time in the CFL was not much better.