By Jordan Meadows
Staff Writer
Long before the Civil Rights Movement reshaped the American legal and cultural landscape, four pioneering African American athletes shattered the NFL’s color barrier in 1946. This moment occurred a full year before Jackie Robinson broke into Major League Baseball, yet their names remain far less recognized in the national memory.
The National Football League had briefly seen African American players in its early years, most notably Fritz Pollard and Bobby Marshall in 1920. But by 1933, a “gentleman’s agreement” among team owners effectively banned Black players from the league. It wasn’t until external pressure—particularly from the Los Angeles Coliseum, which threatened to evict the Rams—forced the issue that change finally came. The Rams responded by signing two standout UCLA teammates: Kenny Washington and Woody Strode.
Washington, who had led the nation in scoring in 1939, was a phenomenal talent and the first Black player to sign an NFL contract in the modern era. He played three seasons with the Rams, posting impressive numbers including a 7.4 yards-per-carry average, and still holds a 92-yard run record with the team.
Strode’s NFL tenure was shorter—only one season—partly due to limited playing time and the relentless racial abuse he faced. Disillusioned with the league, he left to pursue a successful Hollywood acting career, appearing in iconic films such as Spartacus, The Ten Commandments, and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance.
While Washington and Strode opened the door in Los Angeles, two more African American athletes were making history in Cleveland—Bill Willis and Marion Motley. Willis, a lightning-fast defensive tackle from Ohio State, revolutionized the defensive game and helped shape the modern linebacker position. Motley, a bruising fullback and linebacker, was known for his power, speed, and resilience in the face of adversity. Together, they formed the backbone of a team that would dominate for years, and both men would eventually be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
The road for Black players remained steep even after these initial breakthroughs, but more firsts would follow. In 1949, Paul “Tank” Younger became the first NFL player from a historically Black college or university (HBCU), signing with the Rams after a stellar career at Grambling State. Though undrafted, Younger quickly made his mark, becoming one of the league’s top rushers and later transitioning into a front-office role. He would go on to become the first African American NFL front-office executive, and eventually the first Black assistant general manager with the San Diego Chargers.
That same year, George Taliaferro made history as the first African American player ever drafted by an NFL team. Willie Thrower followed closely in 1953, becoming the first Black quarterback to start in an NFL game for the Chicago Bears. Although his playing time was limited, Thrower’s presence marked an essential step toward the eventual rise of Black quarterbacks in the league.
Barriers were also being broken off the field. In 1965, Burl Toler became the first African American to officiate in the NFL. Over his 25-year career, Toler brought dignity and excellence to his role, eventually working Super Bowl XIV and setting a new standard for representation in league officiating.
In 1975, another milestone came when Pittsburgh Steelers fullback Franco Harris became the first Black player to win Super Bowl MVP honors. The 1980s saw further progress when Art Shell, a Hall of Fame offensive tackle, became the first Black head coach in the NFL’s modern era. Hired by the Raiders in 1989, Shell’s leadership on the sidelines broke a long-standing barrier in the coaching ranks and helped normalize the idea of Black leadership in football management.
In 2002, Ozzie Newsome made history of his own by becoming the first African American general manager in the NFL. Leading the Baltimore Ravens, Newsome built a championship team and helped redefine what was possible for Black executives in a sport that had been slow to diversify its leadership.
Most recently, in a historic moment during Super Bowl LVII in 2023, quarterbacks Patrick Mahomes and Jalen Hurts became the first pair of Black quarterbacks to face off in the NFL’s biggest game. Their presence on football’s grandest stage was the culmination of decades of struggle, perseverance, and triumph by those who came before.
