The first black quarterback in professional football was appropriately named Willie Thrower, 1953.
Thrower started out as a strong high school player and went on to have an impressive college athletic career.
As a college player, he broke new ground, becoming the first African American quarterback to play in the Big Ten Conference. Thrower helped his school, Michigan State University, win the national championship in 1952.
Thrower made history in 1953 when he relieved Bears quarterback George Blanda during a game against the San Francisco 49ers in October.
During that fateful game he completed three out of eight passes for a total of 27 yards.
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