The injured Patrick Mahomes and Jalen will go down in Super Bowl LVII history as the first pair of black starting quarterbacks in Super Bowl history. Mahomes is just one of three black quarterbacks to win the Super Bowl (Doug Williams and Russell Wilson are the others) and has been the league’s best quarterback for several years now.
Arguably the face of the NFL, Mahomes inspired many young black quarterbacks with his on-field play and off-field leadership. The Super Bowl game against Hurts is important for Mahomes and the future of the position.
“Being on the world stage and having two black quarterbacks in the Super Bowl – I think that’s special and I’ve learned more and more about the history of the black quarterback since I’ve been in this league. And the guys who came before me and Jalen set the stage for this and now I’m just glad we can sort of set the stage for the kids who are coming now,” the Chiefs quarterback said Thursday. “It will be a great game against two great teams and against another great quarterback. So I’m excited to go out there and try to do what we can to win against a great team.”
Much like the young black quarterbacks who will watch Mahomes and Hurts in the Super Bowl, Mahomes believed he could reach that stage by watching Donovan McNabb, Russell Wilson and other greats reach the biggest stage in the game.
“I think you’ve seen over time every time a guy like Doug Williams or Michael Vick or Donovan McNabb comes out and plays good football against other guys, it gives other guys like me and Jalen some chances of having that platform and having that spot on an NFL team,” Mahomes said. “If we can continue to show that we can still be great, I think that will continue to open doors for other kids who grow up to pursue their dreams and be a quarterback for an NFL team and that. It’s good that we have guys like Jalen on the other side because he’s a great person and obviously a great quarterback.”
Hurts appreciated the significance of what he and Mahomes were able to accomplish, also looking to the previous generation who gave him that opportunity. Guys like Steve McNair, Donovan McNabb and Vick paved the way for the Eagles quarterback to make it to the bigger stage.
“I think that’s history. I think that’s something worth noting. It’s come a long way,” Hurts said. “I think there’s only been seven African American quarterbacks to play in the Super Bowl. Being first in something is pretty cool, so I know it’s going to be a good game.
“I think someone like Mike Vick, Cam [Newton]Randall Cunningham, McNabb, all these types of guys are guys that a lot of young people looked up to, a lot of young black people too, Steve McNair, all those guys. »
A decade from now, Mahomes and Hurts will be part of this conversation with Doug Williams, Steve McNair, Donovan McNabb, Mike Vick and many more. Super Bowl LVII is their opportunity in history.