HISTORY IN THE MAKING: QUARTERBACKS HEADLINE SUPER BOWL
JALEN HURTS AND PATRICK MAHOMES
Jalen Hurts of the Philadelphia Eagles and Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs will play in the first Super Bowl with both teams starting a Black quarterback.
No matter who wins, the first Super Bowl with 2 Black quarterbacks will make history........
On Sunday, for the first time in 57 Super Bowls, both teams will start a Black quarterback. The two players, Mahomes and Hurts, have had superlative seasons. Both are finalists for the Associated Press Most Valuable Player award, and Mahomes winning the MVP honor. Both Hurts and Mahomes acknowledged the long history of Black quarterbacks who fought to pave the way for their opportunity this weekend. “I think about all the rich history in this game, and to be part of such an historic event, historic moment, it’s special,” said Hurts on Monday. “It’s historic,” said Mahomes. “So many people laid the foundation before us, and to be playing with a guy like Jalen, who I know is doing it the right way, it’s going to be a special moment that I hope lives on forever.” This Sunday, history will be made These days, there’s no disputing the talent of Patrick Mahomes, the 27-year-old who is on the precipice of his third Super Bowl appearance and second MVP award in just five years in the starting job. His highlight reel heroics have redefined the possibilities for quarterback play in the NFL. Hurts is the biggest star of the Philadelphia Eagles, arguably the league’s most talented team, who have cruised through the playoffs to this Super Bowl berth. Even more than his football skills — his mobility, his passing game, his creativity — Hurts’ teammates and coaches praise him for his leadership. “It’s like having Michael Jordan out there. He’s your leader,” said Eagles coach Nick Sirianni after the team’s first playoff game last month. “This guy leads. He brings this calmness to the entire team. He plays great football. He’s tough as they come.” Beyond the Super Bowl, the 2022 season was already historic for Black quarterbacks. Just under half of the league’s 32 teams started a Black quarterback at some point this season, and 29% of all NFL games this year featured a Black starter under center, according to Football Perspective. In total, 21 Black quarterbacks threw at least one pass this season, the highest number ever. But come Sunday, watching Mahomes and Hurts face off in the Super Bowl will be a moment to treasure,— Jason Reid, a sportswriter for ESPN and author of the book Rise of the Black Quarterback: What It Means for America.