For decades, black athletes had a harder time accessing the quarterback position. Now there are two black quarterbacks in the Super Bowl for the first time. A sign of dwindling racism in US football? Limited.
As reporter legend Sal Paolantonio die “NFL Opening Night” and thus the Super Bowl-Week opened, it was initially addressed to those present quarterbacks: Jalen Hurts from the Philly Eagles and Patrick Mahomes from the Kansas City Chiefs. However, his opening question was not about title chances, anticipation or expectations. It was about: Origin. For the first time in NFL history, two black quarterbacks will represent their teams in the Super Bowl. What does that mean to them?
“A Historic Moment”
“That is Big Time History. A historic moment”, said Hurts, who had to wait for a storm of cheers from the audience before answering. And Mahomes: “So many people before us have laid the foundation for this. It will be a special moment that I hope will live forever.”
Among all the stories that the media spectacle super bowl (live here on Monday in the audio full report) is the biography of quarterbacks the most present in the USA. While the answers from Mahomes and Hurts give an idea of how relevant and significant this milestone is, especially for African Americans, many people in this country are irritated by the topic; especially those who believe that origin and skin color will no longer play a role in 2023. The fact that the world is not “color-blind”, especially in the USA, is shown by hardly any other group of people as strikingly as by the quarterbacks of the NFL.
Black players “not smart” enough
The Super Bowl has already been played 56 times. Only nine of the 112 starting quarterback spots were Black players (8 percent). In a league with around 60 percent Black professionals and a 13 percent African American society, that’s a notable underrepresentation. The roots of it reach far beyond football.
“You have to look at the perception of Black people in society and then talk about how that perception manifests itself in sport.”says Dr. Todd Boyd, Professor of Film and Media Studies and Chair of Race and Popular Culture. “Black people have long been considered intellectually inferior to white people, but possibly physically superior.”
Black body, white mind; this basic scheme has its beginnings in the colonial and slave ages. In sports, stereotypes have developed from this, which are still effective today in a weakened form. First, the myth of the “natural” Black athlete, physically dominant through genetics but unbridled and intellectually limited. On the other hand, the stereotype of the “reasonable” white athlete, intelligent and structured, who had to work hard to develop his skills.
These narratives are deeply rooted and have become embedded in human thinking for generations – including that of those affected. The fact that there is still no supportable scientific framework for the supposed genetic superiority of black athletes is largely ignored. With far-reaching consequences – not least in the quarterback position.
In addition to the necessary intelligence, black players were also denied other position-specific skills. “Quarterbacks are leaders. Black players weren’t seen as leaders.”, says Boyd. And further: “Quarterbacks are often the face of a team. And black people have been prevented from filling that position. It has a long history.”
Structural Disadvantage of Black Athletes
One of the most important figures in black quarterback history is Warren Moon: Despite a record-breaking college career, he was not selected by any team in the 1978 draft. It wasn’t until 1984, after very successful years in Canada, that he made it into the NFL. There Moon convinced with six Pro Bowl nominations in ten years. In 2006 he became the first black quarterback to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Moon’s successful career has made it increasingly easier for black quarterbacks to break into the league. However, the fact that they were and are exposed to racial discrimination is well documented. An excerpt of findings from the last 20 years:
- Black quarterbacks were twice as likely to be benched as white quarterbacks after underperforming
- Black quarterbacks tended to be underpaid
- In draft reports, Black actors were significantly more likely to focus on physical virtues, while White actors emphasized mind-centered skills. In addition, the social behavior and environment of blacks were questioned disproportionately often
- The media disproportionately emphasized the physical virtues of black players, while the football intellect of white players was disproportionately positive*
This tendential unequal treatment is usually not based on an ideological, inhuman attitude, but on learned, unconscious thought patterns and attributions. In short: on structural racism.
Diverse generation of quarterbacks
That it is now the first black quarterback-Duel the Super Bowl-History is a symbol of a new era: In the first week of the NFL season, eleven of 32 Starting quarterbacks Black – more than ever. With the addition of Mahomes, three of the bottom five MVPs, the so-called Most Valuable Players of the Season, are now Black quarterbacks. He’s at the forefront of a new generation of throwers that’s far more diverse than previous ones.
Incidentally, the trend is also evident in the opposite direction: in some positions that are considered to be predominantly black, white players currently set the tone – at least at the top. among the wide receivers for example, Cooper Kupp was the defining figure of recent years. And since 2016, Christian McCaffrey has been the highest-paid running back of league history.
These developments speak for an increasing break-up of racist structures in US football, which is understandably celebrated. But with all the acknowledgment of this progress: For the change of quarterback-Landscape is another, purely sporting development more relevant.
“Modern” quarterbacks play differently
Hands used to be far more important than feet quarterbacks should above all be able to throw. Today, however, mobility and ability as a runner are much bigger factors. The best example: Super Bowl Quarterback Hurtswho set a new NFL record with 15 running touchdowns this season.
In a way, the modern quarterback much closer to the stereotype of the black athlete than before. This favors the rise of black people quarterbacks, even if old stereotypes still work. That this is undoubtedly the case is shown by a look at areas in which physical, supposedly “black skills” cannot be upgraded – namely off the field.
Last season, only two of 32 head coaches in the NFL were black. Under general managers there were seven. And at the highest level, among the owners? Not a single black person. That shows: Despite historic quarterback duels in the super bowl – the road to de facto equality remains a long one.
* Sources:
Quarterback benching:
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1527002515609659
Wages:
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1527002508327383
Draft reports:
https://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2014/05/15/race-in-the-nfl-draft/
Media:
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/08838151.2014.966364