Before African Americans were accepted to be part of the National Football League or the NFL, they underwent arduous experience of being discriminated by the white NFL players. But the African Americans did not lose hope and before they knew it, they were slowly being accepted as part of the NFL until people have noticed a growing number of black quarterbacks in the NFL. Here is a list of some of the black quarterbacks who used to be and who are still part of the NFL.
GEORGE TALIAFERRO
George Taliaferro was born in Gates, Tennessee on January 8, 1927 and was the first African American to be drafted by a team that formed part of the NFL. It was in 1949 when George Taliaferro was drafted by the Chicago Bears. He was then a punter, quarterback, and a halfback. However, instead of playing for the Chicago Bears, George Taliaferro chose to play at the All-America Football Conference under the Los Angeles Dons team. After a year, George Taliaferro decided to join the NFL, playing for different teams including the Philadelphia Eagles in 1955, the Baltimore Colts from 1953 to 1954, the Dallas Texans in 1952, and the New York Yanks from 1950 to 1951.
FRITZ POLLARD
Born Frederick Douglass Pollard on January 27, 1894, Fritz Pollard was not only one of the first black quarterbacks to have joined the NFL, but he was also the first black head coach in the NFL. Before he joined the NFL, Fritz Pollard was a track and field athlete at Lane Tech where he graduated high school. This black quarterback then played football during college at Brown University. After college, Fritz Pollard took football as a profession, playing for the Akron Pros team which he later led to the championship in 1920. A year later, Fritz Pollard was appointed as co-head coach of Akron Pros. This black quarterback also experienced playing for other teams such as Providence Steam Roller, Gilberton Cadamounts, Hammond Pros, and Milwaukee Badgers. Fritz Pollard died on May 11, 1986.
CHARLIE BRACKINS
Charlie Brackins is another black quarterback who became part of the NFL. Born in Dallas, Texas on January 12, 1932, Charlie Brackins studied high school at the Lincoln High School in Dallas, Texas and attended college at the Prairie View A&M University. Known as "Choo Choo" in the NFL, whose real name is Charles Brackins, it was in 1955 when he joined the NFL and played for the Green Bay Packers. Charlie Brackins, whose height is 6' 2" and weighs 210 lbs., stayed in the NFL for only a year and played for only one team during such professional experience.
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