Patrick Mahomes the 8th Black QB To Play in the Super Bowl: Who Are the Other 7 in NFL History

It is Black History Month and one cannot fail to acknowledge the noteworthy contribution of Patrick Mahomes, who is poised to further seal his commendable legacy on Sunday, February 11th. The highly-anticipated match between Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers will feature Mahomes making his fourth Super Bowl appearance—the most by a black quarterback in history. However, it is important to recognize the seven legendary black quarterbacks who paved the way before him and graced the Super Bowl stage.

As we eagerly await the advent of Super Bowl LVIII with the 28-year-old set for potentially clinching his third victory, it’s an opportune moment to reflect on all the black quarterbacks who’ve showcased their prowess in prior Super Bowls.

Black QBs with Super Bowl appearances apart from Patrick Mahomes

1. Doug Williams (Washington Redskins, 1987)

In 1978, Douglas Williams made history as the first African-American quarterback to be selected in the first round of the NFL draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. After 5 seasons with this club, he proceeded to spend two years at Arizona Outlaws before joining Washington Redskins in 1986.

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The subsequent year saw Mr. Williams lead his team to achieve Super Bowl glory through his stellar MVP-named performance that concluded in a decisive 42-10 victory over the Denver Broncos. Notably, this milestone positioned him as the first-ever black quarterback to start and win an NFL championship.

2. Steve McNair (Tennessee Titans, 2000)

Steve McNair dedicated nearly 13 years of his career to the Tennessee Titans, leading them to their Super Bowl appearance in the year 2000. However, his team was unable to secure victory, suffering a narrow 16-23 defeat by the St. Louis Rams. Nevertheless, in 2003, McNair’s exceptional skills and contributions earned him the NFL’s Most Valuable Player title.

3. Donovan McNabb (Philadelphia Eagles, 2005)

Philadelphia Eagles Hall of Famer, Donovan McNabb, served a notable tenure of 11 seasons with the team. Arguably, his most exceptional performance came during the 2004 season. He spearheaded the Eagles to the Super Bowl XXXIX while extravagantly earning himself Pro Bowl honors. Notably, he also successfully drove them to clinch the NFC Championship title in that same season.

4. Colin Kaepernick (San Francisco 49ers, 2013)

Prominent American civil rights advocate, Colin Kaepernick, served at the San Francisco 49ers from 2011 until 2016. During the 2012 season, he achieved his first career postseason start, and the same season his team made it to the Super Bowl showdown. Unfortunately, they faced defeat with a score of 31-34 against the Baltimore Ravens.

5. Russell Wilson (Seattle Seahawks, 2014 and 2015)

Before Patrick Mahomes, Russell Wilson held the distinction of having the most Super Bowl appearances by a black quarterback. With consecutive Super Bowl appearances, he emerged victorious in Super Bowl XLVIII but unfortunately came up short against the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLIX. Nevertheless, his earlier triumph solidified his position as the second black quarterback to claim victory in the Super Bowl.

6. Cam Newton (Carolina Panthers, 2016)

In his inaugural season with the Carolina Panthers, Cam Newton was honored with both the Offensive Rookie of the Year and NFL Rookie of the Year accolades. Subsequently, he guided the Panthers to Super Bowl 50, although they suffered a 10-24 defeat against the Denver Broncos.

7. Jalen Hurts (Philadelphia Eagles, 2023)

Jalen Hurts, the Philadelphia Eagles quarterback, commenced his professional journey in 2020. In the subsequent 2022 season, the 2-time Pro Bowl winner guided his team to Super Bowl LVII. However, despite their valiant effort, the Philadelphia Eagles fell short to Patrick Mahomes’ Kansas City Chiefs.

These are all the 7 names to have made a Super Bowl appearance alongside Patrick Mahomes. Let’s celebrate their achievements as we curiously look forward to witnessing whether the Chiefs quarterback can bolster his already impressive standing among these iconic figures in the sporting world.

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