Patrick Mahomes vs. Jalen Hurts: Washington Legend Doug Williams 'Emotional' as Black QBs Make Super Bowl History

“I’ve got such a smile on my face right now, but I’ve got water in my eyes, too,” Washington legend Doug Williams says. “There are two Black quarterbacks in the Super Bowl. Either way, I can’t lose.”

For the first time in NFL history, the Super Bowl will be headlined by teams starting two Black quarterbacks - and Doug Williams is understandably delighted.

The Kansas City Chiefs will be represented by Patrick Mahomes while the Philadelphia Eagles will start Jalen Hurts when the two teams face off on the league’s biggest stage in Super Bowl LVII in Glendale, Arizona.

Doug Williams has been there.

At the age of 32, Williams broke new ground, becoming the first Black quarterback to start in the Super Bowl - and he also won the game’s MVP award in 1988 while playing for Washington.

“Whenever you take big steps and accomplish things that haven’t been accomplished before, with everything we’ve been through, all the hurdles … Man, yeah, it means a lot for all of us,” Williams said via Andscape.

Williams, 67, continued: “I was sitting here on pins and needles to see if it would happen ... I don’t think I can even explain what this means. We have come such a long way. It has been so hard, so many barriers, but we did it. Two Black quarterbacks in the Super Bowl!”

Since Williams won the Super Bowl with Washington in 1988, only two other Black quarterbacks have gone on to start and win Super Bowls: Russell Wilson, in 2013 when the Seattle Seahawks won Super Bowl XLVIII, and Mahomes in 2020 when the Chiefs won Super Bowl LIV when he joined Williams as the only Black quarterback to be anointed with Super Bowl MVP honors.

“I’ve got such a smile on my face right now, but I’ve got water in my eyes, too,” Williams said. “There are two Black quarterbacks in the Super Bowl. Either way, I can’t lose.”

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