Pioneers in Sports

1. Who was the first African American NFL head coach? Fritz Pollard. In 1921, a year after the NFL's inaugural season, Fritz Pollard became the first Black head coach when he was hired to lead the Akron Pros. It would take nearly 70 years for the NFL to have its second Black head coach – Art Shell of the Oakland Raiders in 1989.

2. How many NFL teams have NEVER had a black head coach? 11.

   The Commanders are one of 11 football teams that have never employed a full-time Black head coach. Joining the Commanders are the Bills, Cowboys, Giants, Jaguars, Panthers, Rams, Ravens, Saints, Seahawks and Titans.

3. Who was the first starting African American quarterback in the NFL?

   In 1968, Marlin Briscoe became the first Black starting quarterback in modern pro football.

4. Who was the first African American Head Coach to win a Superbowl?

   Hall of Fame and former Indianapolis Colts Head Coach Tony Dungy is the first African-American Head Coach to lead a team to victory in the Super Bowl.

5. Who is the first female African American coach in the NFL?

   Jennifer King became the first black woman to be named a full-time NFL coach in 2021.

6. Who was the first African American female sports announcer?

   Jayne Kennedy motivated Black journalists to be more than pretty faces. She was the first Black female to cover a Super Bowl following the Civil Rights Movement. She was born in Washington D.C.

7. What is being removed from the NFL endzone for the Super Bowl?

It's February 9, 2025 - Super Bowl Sunday. Jalen Hurts and Patrick Mahomes will play in a historical matchup that will feature two Black starting quarterbacks.

Only three Black quarterbacks have won the Super Bowl. That being Patrick Mahomes, Doug Williams, and Russell Wilson.

Despite the careers of Doug Williams, Randall Cunningham, Steve McNair, Donovan McNabb, and Michael Vick, Warren Moon remains the only Black QB in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Now is not the time to remove "End Racism" from the NFL endzone.