Record 16 Black Quarterbacks Start Week 1 NFL 2025

The 2025 NFL season marks a historic milestone with a record 16 Black quarterbacks starting in Week 1, representing half of the league's starting quarterbacks. This surpasses the previous record of 15 set in the 2024 season and follows the groundbreaking Super Bowl 57 where two Black quarterbacks started for the first time. Notable players include Jalen Hurts, Patrick Mahomes, Dak Prescott, Lamar Jackson, and Caleb Williams, among others. Doug Williams, the first Black quarterback to win a Super Bowl, predicted this milestone would occur within five years, highlighting the significant progress in the perception and opportunities for Black athletes at the quarterback position. This evolution reflects decades of progress since pioneers like Marlin Briscoe, Warren Moon, and Doug Williams himself. The increasing presence of Black quarterbacks in the NFL underscores a shift in the league's dynamics and the breaking of historical barriers at the most pivotal position in football.