Milestone Reflects Growing Diversity and Opportunity at the NFL’s Most Critical Position

September 4, 2025

New York, NY - As the National Football League (NFL) kicks off its 2025 season, a historic milestone will mark the opening week: a record 16 Black quarterbacks are set to start as their teams’ QB1s. This unprecedented number, representing half of the league’s 32 starting quarterback positions, surpasses the previous record of 15 set in the 2024 season and underscores the evolving landscape of professional football.

The list of Week 1 starters includes standout names like Patrick Mahomes (Kansas City Chiefs), Jalen Hurts (Philadelphia Eagles), Lamar Jackson (Baltimore Ravens), Dak Prescott (Dallas Cowboys), C.J. Stroud (Houston Texans), Kyler Murray (Arizona Cardinals), Caleb Williams (Chicago Bears), Jordan Love (Green Bay Packers), Geno Smith (Las Vegas Raiders), Spencer Rattler (New Orleans Saints), Russell Wilson (New York Giants), Justin Fields (New York Jets), Jayden Daniels (Washington Commanders), Bryce Young (Carolina Panthers), Cam Ward (Tennessee Titans), and Michael Penix Jr. (Atlanta Falcons). This diverse group ranges from seasoned Super Bowl champions to promising rookies, showcasing the depth of talent at the quarterback position.

This milestone follows a steady increase in Black quarterback representation in recent years. In 2023, 14 Black quarterbacks started in Week 1, followed by 15 in 2024. The 2025 season’s record-breaking figure highlights a significant shift in a league where the quarterback position was once predominantly white due to longstanding stereotypes about leadership and intellectual capability. “I said about a year and a half ago, half the league gonna be Black quarterbacks before long. I said probably within the next five years, and it happened before five years,” said Doug Williams, the first Black quarterback to win a Super Bowl in 1988 with the Washington Commanders, in an interview with USA TODAY Sports. “If you write the top quarterbacks in the league, I think the majority of them would be Black.”

The journey to this point has been paved by pioneers like Marlin Briscoe, who became the first Black quarterback to start in modern pro football history in 1968 with the Denver Broncos, and Warren Moon, the first Black quarterback inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2006. Moon reflected on the progress, telling USA TODAY Sports, “Just like last year and even the years prior, it just makes you proud to see the number just continue to keep rising. It’s great that the league and ownership and society and everybody is bought in and sees that these guys can play at a very, very high level.”

The 2023 Super Bowl LVII, featuring Mahomes and Hurts as the first pair of Black quarterbacks to start in the same Super Bowl, was a landmark moment. Mahomes described it as “history,” noting, “It’s come a long way. To be the first for something is pretty cool.” This year’s Week 1 starters build on that legacy, with players like Jayden Daniels, the 2024 Rookie of the Year, and Caleb Williams, a top draft pick, signaling a bright future for Black quarterbacks in the NFL.

However, the path has not been without challenges. Historically, Black quarterbacks faced systemic barriers, often being asked to switch positions to running back or wide receiver due to biases about their ability to lead. As recently as the 1990s, players like Charlie Ward, a Heisman Trophy winner, opted for careers outside the NFL rather than change positions. Today, the success of mobile, dual-threat quarterbacks like Jackson and Hurts has reshaped perceptions, aligning with the modern NFL’s emphasis on athleticism and versatility.

The record 16 Black quarterbacks starting Week 1 is not just a statistical achievement but a cultural shift, reflecting greater opportunities and changing attitudes within the sport. As the NFL season begins on September 4, 2025, with the Philadelphia Eagles facing the Dallas Cowboys, led by Hurts and Prescott respectively, the league celebrates a new era of inclusivity at its most pivotal position.

“This is about opportunity,” said Williams. “It’s not about the color of your skin but about the chance to show what you can do.” With half the league’s teams now entrusting their offenses to Black quarterbacks, the NFL is proving that talent, not race, defines its future stars.