USA TODAY International Edition
Mahomes, Hurts embrace, relish ‘ special’ matchup
When Patrick Mahomes and Jalen Hurts take the field Feb. 12, they’ll be the first two Black quarterbacks to start against each other in the Super Bowl. It’s an accomplishment both fully embrace.
“It is history. It’s come a long way. I think there has only been ( eight) African American quarterbacks to play in a Super Bowl. To be the first for something is pretty cool. I know it’ll be a good one,” Hurts, the Philadelphia Eagles quarterback, told reporters Thursday.
There will be eight Black quarterbacks to start in a Super Bowl once the championship game kicks off: Doug Williams, Steve McNair, Donovan McNabb, Colin Kaepernick, Russell Wilson, Cam Newton, Mahomes and Hurts.
Williams, Wilson and Mahomes are the only three Black quarterbacks to have won a Super Bowl.
The Kansas City Chiefs’ Mahomes is attempting to become the first Black starting quarterback to have multiple Lombardi Trophies. “To be on the world stage and have two Black quarterbacks starting in the Super Bowl, I think it’s special. I’ve learned more and more about the history of Black quarterbacks since I’ve been in this league, and the guys that came before me and Jalen set the stage for this,” he said Thursday. “I’m glad we can set the stage for kids that are coming up now.”
Mahomes acknowledged he wouldn’t be in this position without former Black quarterbacks who paved the way. He hopes he’ll have the same effect on young Black kids who aspire to be NFL quarterbacks. “If we can continue to show that we can consistently be great, I think it will continue to open doors for other kids growing up to follow their dreams and be a quarterback of an NFL team,” he said.
Chiefs coach Andy Reid called the feat “unique” but said that one day he hopes the color of the quarterback’s skin won’t be a significant topic. “The biggest thing is they are really good. I think it’s a tribute to ( Mahomes and Hurts). That’s unique. It is unique,” Reid said. “I don’t ever look at it that way. I look at, I don’t really care what color you are. You are a good player. At that position, it takes a tremendous amount of time and effort. I can really appreciate that. I’ve never been one to look at the color part of it. Where I grew up we had everybody. Everybody was a part of the equation. Someday I hope that’s the way it all works.”