First Black Starting QB to be Honored by Congress

Marlin Briscoe, the first black man to start at quarterback in professional football, will receive a special honor from Congress.

The Omaha native was recognized by U.S. Rep. Lee Terry last week on the House floor as part of Black History Month. A Congressional Record will be presented to Briscoe on Monday during a ceremony.

Briscoe was a quarterback in college, but was drafted in 1968 by the Broncos as a cornerback. He moved to quarterback after an injury sidelined the starter.

Briscoe was released by the Broncos in 1969. He went on to become an all-pro receiver with the Buffalo Bills and Miami, winning two Super Bowls with the Dolphins.

From The Denver Post.


I have always had a connection with and an admiration for black quarterbacks, and none are as significant as Marlin Briscoe. During a time where blacks were considered inferior and unintelligent - much less, black quarterbacks - Briscoe became the first to lead a professional offense.

His achievement is comparable to Barack Obama's election. Both began to cause a blurring of the emphasis and scrutiny of race, on their respective positions. Of course, underlying predispositions have never disappeared, despite barriers being broken. Even recently, Eagles Quarterback Donovan McNabb spoke out about the discrepancy between criticisms of white and black quarterbacks.

Here's an account of what he told James Brown on HBO's Real Sports, in 2007.

"I pass for 300 yards, our team wins by seven, [mimicking] 'Ah, he could've made this throw, they would have scored if he did this,' " McNabb tells HBO.

"Doesn't every quarterback go through that?" Brown asks.

"Not everybody," McNabb replies.

Brown then asks if the media is tougher on him than on white quarterbacks such as Carson Palmer and Peyton Manning.

"Let me start by saying I love those guys," McNabb tells HBO. "But they don't get criticized as much as we do. They don't."


Although McNabb doesn't have physical or statistical proof that his claims are true, I do see some validity in his statements. Prejudice and bias will never be eliminated in any part of the world. Even if every human was exactly the same, physically and mentally, the people would still sense inequalities in society. And since it is easy to notice a person's skin color before their skill or personality, African-Americans are susceptible to harsher evaluations, due to the somewhat hidden past culture of this country, and the amount of pressure that is cast upon any quarterback.

Unlike Obama, Marlin Briscoe does not get nearly enough credit or outward respect he deserves. It's great to see him get some recognition 40 years after his first start.

--Max Caster