The first black NFL kicker for the Cincinnati Bengals was Doug Pelfrey. He joined the team in 1994, making him the first African American kicker to play for the Bengals. Prior to playing in the NFL, Pelfrey played college ball at the University of Kentucky, where he set the school record for longest field goal at 53 yards.
During his NFL career, Pelfrey played for the Bears and Jaguars, as well as the Bengals.
In his time with the Bengals, Pelfrey made 41 field goals in 60 attempts. He was considered a reliable player and was known for coming through in clutch situations. He was also known for his strong kickoffs, which often put the Bengals in an excellent field position.
During his tenure with the Bengals, Pelfrey appeared in the AFC Wild Card game in 1990. However, the Bengals lost to the Oilers, 10-7. Although Pelfrey was no longer on the team in 1991 when the Bengals won the AFC Championship, he played an important role in helping the team reach that point in their history.
Have there been any black kickers in the NFL?
Yes, there have been several black kickers in the NFL. Some of the earliest black players in the NFL are credited with being kickers, including James Pope in 1932 and Joe Lillard in 1933. More recently, notable black kickers include Justin Tucker and Cairo Santos who both played in the NFL in the 2010s.
Other African-American kickers that have played in the NFL and are currently still active include Graham Gano, Eddy Pineiro, Marshall Morgan and Michael Badgley. Gano and Pineiro both have notable success stories, with Gano as a two-time Pro Bowler and Pineiro recently kicking the winning field goal to give the Bears a victory in 2019.
How many black kickers in NFL history?
There have been a total of 10 black kickers in NFL history. These include:
1. Jason Elam – Denver Broncos | 1993-2007
2. Reggie Roby – Washington Redskins | 1983–1994
3. Marc Parenteau – Chicago Bears | 1987–1991
4. Donald Igwebuike – Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 1985–1991
5. Eddie Murray – Detroit Lions | 1980–1992
6. Charlie Gogolak – Washington Redskins | 1966–1975
7. Gene Mingo – Cleveland Browns | 1961–1969
8. Carlos Huerta – Los Angeles Raiders | 1989–1994
9. Obed Ariri – Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 1982–1985
10. Garo Yepremian – Miami Dolphins | 1970–1981.
These 10 kickers have all played an important role in the NFL by making significant contributions to their respective teams and making history in the field of kicking.
Has a black QB ever won a Super Bowl?
Yes, a black quarterback has won a Super Bowl. The first was Doug Williams of the Washington Redskins who won Super Bowl XXII in 1988. He was followed by Steve McNair of the Tennessee Titans who won Super Bowl XXXIV in 2000, Russell Wilson of the Seattle Seahawks winning Super Bowl XLVIII in 2013 and 2014, Cam Newton of the Carolina Panthers who won Super Bowl 50 in 2016, and finally Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs who won Super Bowl LIV in 2020.
Additionally, many other black quarterbacks have made it to the Super Bowl even if they did not come away with the win, including Donovan McNabb, Colin Kaepernick, and Tony Eason.
How many black kickers and punters are there in the NFL?
At the moment, there are 9 black kickers/punters actively playing in the NFL, including Marquette King (Denver Broncos), Dustin Colquitt (Kansas City Chiefs), Jordan Gay (Carolina Panthers), Kasey Redfern (Cleveland Browns), Corey Bojorquez (Buffalo Bills), Bryan Anger (Tampa Bay Buccaneers), Brett Kern (Tennessee Titans), Cody Parkey (Chicago Bears), and Greg Joseph (Miami Dolphins).
According to the NFL Players Association, black players make up only 2. 5% of all kickers and punters, which is much lower than the overall NFL population (70%). This discrepancy can be attributed to lack of exposure or biases amongst coaches and scouts.
As such, organizations such as the Alan Page Black College Football Program are helping to level the playing field for minority players and provide them with more opportunities at the professional level.
Who was 1st black quarterback in NFL?
The first black quarterback to take the field in the NFL was Marlin Briscoe. He played for the Denver Broncos in 1968 and made history as the first black quarterback in the NFL. Briscoe also set several single-season records that same year, such as most touchdowns and passes attempted.
He was also the first quarterback to have a 300-yard passing game, though his record was broken a year later. After the 1968 season, Briscoe was traded to the Buffalo Bills and went on to become the first African-American quarterback to start an AFL (American Football League) game.
He played for three other teams before retiring in 1976. Briscoe’s legacy as the first black quarterback in the NFL is still strong today. He has since been inducted into the Black College Football Hall of Fame as well as the South Dakota Hall of Fame.
Marlin Briscoe will always be remembered for being the first African-American to break the color barrier in the NFL and open the door for future black quarterbacks.
Was Fritz Pollard the first black NFL player?
No, Fritz Pollard was not the first black NFL player. While Pollard was the first black player to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame (in 2005), he was not the first black player in the NFL.
In fact, black players had been playing in the NFL since the early 1920s. The first black player in the league was Charles Follis, a running back for the Shelby Athletic Club, who began playing in 1902.
However, by 1933 the number of black players had dwindled and Pollard became the first black head coach in league history that year. At the end of the 1933 season, NFL teams had a total of 13 black players, including Pollard.
Pollard went on to play for four different teams throughout his career, earning All-American honors in 1921, and ultimately being inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2005.
Which NFL team has a black punter?
The New York Jets have a black punter in the NFL named Lachlan Edwards. Edwards was recruited from the Australian Football League and signed with the Jets in 2015. He became a free agent in 2020, but re-signed with the team shortly thereafter.
Edwards made his debut as a Jet in 2017. He has since handled punting duties for the Jets, averaging 44. 3 yards per game. He has pinned opponents deep in their own territory over 30 times and put 11 kicks inside the 20-yard line.
Edwards is the only NFL punter who is African American, acting as a role model for those interested in a career like his.