The huddle has never looked so diverse. This NFL season, a record 16 Black quarterbacks are set to take the field as their team’s starter, a historic benchmark that signals a dramatic and long-overdue shift in professional football. It’s a feat that represents more than just a statistical milestone; it’s a powerful statement on the progress of a league with a long and complicated history regarding race.

For decades, the path to the quarterback position was paved with subtle and not-so-subtle prejudices. The position, often considered the most important in all of team sports, was for a long time reserved for white players. Black athletes were pigeonholed into roles that prioritized “raw athleticism,” a phenomenon known as racial stacking. The underlying, and deeply offensive, assumption was that Black players lacked the intelligence, leadership, and decision-making abilities to be a signal-caller.

This bias was evident in the language used to describe players. A 2008 study of pre-NFL draft analysis found that Black quarterbacks were consistently praised for their physical gifts while their mental capabilities were downplayed. They were called “athletic quarterbacks,” while their white counterparts were lauded as “good signal callers” or “students of the game.”

The careers of pioneers like Marlin Briscoe and Conredge Holloway underscore the systemic barriers. Even after demonstrating success at the quarterback position, both were pressured into switching to wide receiver or defensive back, a stark reminder of the limited opportunities available.

The Long, Hard Road to the Top

The journey to this historic season has been fraught with stepbacks and public scrutiny. Players have been forced to push back against stereotypes and microaggressions throughout their careers.

The criticism of two-time MVP Lamar Jackson in his early years epitomized the lingering bias. Despite his prolific college career and undeniable talent, he faced calls from pundits to switch to wide receiver. An anonymous defensive coordinator even stated, “If he has to pass to win the game, they ain’t winning the game…I don’t give a s— if he wins the league MVP 12 times, I don’t think he’ll ever be one as a quarterback. He’ll be one as a football player, but not as a quarterback.”

In a similar vein, the now-infamous clause in Kyler Murray’s 2022 contract—which mandated four hours of “independent study”—was quickly removed after Hall of Fame quarterback Warren Moon spoke out. Moon called the clause a “negative stereotype that Black quarterbacks are lazy and don’t study.”

The scrutiny, as players have noted, is often disproportionate. Former quarterback Tyrod Taylor put it bluntly in a 2017 interview, saying he always knew he would be criticized more than his white counterparts. “We’re held to a certain standard. We almost have to be perfect,” he said.

From One to Sixteen: A New Era

The numbers tell a compelling story of progress. In 1971, Black quarterbacks represented only 3% of those who threw at least 100 passes in a season. By 2001, that number had grown to 35%. Today, the league’s top position mirrors the diversity of its player base more closely than ever before.

This progress was on full display in Super Bowl LVII, the first in history to feature two Black starting quarterbacks, Patrick Mahomes and Jalen Hurts. The monumental matchup was a celebration of how far the game has come. As Mahomes reflected, “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. I’m glad we can set the stage for kids that are coming up now.”

This season’s 16 Black starting quarterbacks are not just building on a legacy; they are forging a new one. They are living proof that talent, intelligence, and leadership have no color, and in doing so, are ensuring that the next generation of players won’t face the same baseless biases that once defined the position.