At approximately 6:30 p.m. EST, more than 100 million viewers around the world will witness Black history being made during Black History Month. Jalen Hurts and Patrick Mahomes will lead their respective teams into battle at State Farm Stadium. By doing so, Super Bowl LVII will become the first NFL championship game to feature two starting Black quarterbacks. From Donovan McNabb to Warren Moon, a number of Black quarterbacks will take pride in this moment. However, no one will quite understand it like Doug Williams, the first Black quarterback to win the Super Bowl.
“I had water in my eyes,” Williams said about the moment he learned Mahomes and Hurts would both play in Super Bowl LVII.
“I don’t want to say tears because there wasn’t anything coming down, but I had water in my eyes. I was just happy that we finally got that out the way.”
As interview requests roll in for him and Russell Wilson, Williams has his thoughts set on those who came before him, Wilson, Hurts and Mahomes.
“I think more about the guys who didn’t get a chance before me,” Williams said.
“The ones who have gone on and are looking down on this. A missed opportunity for some of the ones before me. That’s the best way to describe it: An opportunity that a lot of people were not afforded.”
On Sunday night, Patrick Mahomes will make history as the first Black quarterback to win multiple Super Bowl titles or Hurts will become the fourth Black quarterback to win a Super Bowl. Regardless of what takes place, Williams is looking toward the future. As he puts it, the goal is to eventually have more Black coaches in the league.
“It’s time to open the doors for more Black coaches,” Williams said.
“There’s an awful lot of guys out there of color, Black guys out there that deserve the opportunity to be a coach.”
For the first time in Super Bowl history, two Black quarterbacks will start in the game.
Doug Williams opened the door 35 years ago when he became the first Black QB to win a Super Bowl.
As narrated by @RGIII. pic.twitter.com/wSNUhkDvJq
— ESPN (@espn) February 12, 2023
