Patrick Mahomes and Jalen Hurts Became the First Black Quarterbacks to Face Off at the Super Bowl
CNN
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The match between Chief of Kansas City and Philadelphia Eagles will be the first in Super Bowl history to feature two Black starting quarterbacks, as Patrick Mahomes and Jalen Hurts bid to lead their team to glory on the biggest stage of all.
Black quarterbacks have played and won the Super Bowl in the past but never had two black quarterbacks start for each side.
Mahomes, who became the third black quarterback to win a Super Bowl in 2020, is aiming to become the first black quarterback in NFL history to win multiple Super Bowls, while Eagles quarterback Hurts could become the fourth black quarterback to win the Lombardi Trophy.
Doug Williams was the first black quarterback to start and win the Super Bowl, leading the then-Washington Redskins to victory in 1988, followed by Russell Wilson for the Seattle Seahawks in 2014 and the Mahomes in 2020, in when everyone else has started and lost the big game.
Mahomes energized after an ankle injury to inspire his team to a 23-20 win in the AFC Championship over the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday.
Clearly struggling with pain, the 27-year-old put on an inspiring performance, throwing 326 yards and two touchdowns.
“I don’t think we have any cigars, but we’ll be ready for the Super Bowl,” Mahomes told CBS after the game, not wanting to get too excited.
Earlier in the day, the Eagles Hurts quarterback edged past Cam Newton for the most rushed touchdowns in a season against a quarterback as he led his team past the San Francisco 49ers, 31-7.
“Honestly, I don’t know how to feel,” he told reporters after arriving at the Super Bowl.
“You worked so hard to put yourself in this position and I am forever grateful. God only knows what each individual on this team was able to overcome for us to come together as a team and do something special as a team.
“That’s what makes the most sense. I always want to go out there and give my best no matter what because I don’t want to disappoint the people next to me.”
Super Bowl LVII will take place on February 12.
