The 57th edition of the Super Bowlwhich will be played on Sunday, February 12, already has a guaranteed place in the great history of the NFL. Because it will be the first edition of the traditional final of the American football league that will face two African-American quarterbacks: Jalen Hurtsof Philadelphia Eaglesy Patrick Mahomesof Kansas City Chiefs.
Mahomes, a champion three years ago with Kansas, will become the first quarterback from that origin with two titles if he leads the Chiefs to victory in the game to be played this week at the State Farm Stadium de Arizona.
Hurts wants to be the fourth to win the Super Bowl, joining Doug Williams (in the XXII, with the Washington Redskins, after the 1987 season), Russell Wilson (the XLVIII, with the Seattle Seahawks, after 2013) and Mahomes himself.
Regardless of who ends up hoisting the trophy, it will be another victory for black quarterbacks who have been looked down on for so long and who have come a long way in the NFL since Fritz Pollard he became the first to compete in the league in 1923.
Nearly 80 years passed from the Pollard raid until the Michael Vick became the first black quarterback selected as number one in the draft in 2001, for Atlanta Falcons.
Steve McNair was the first to receive the award Most valuable Player in 2003, when he stayed at the gates of the Super Bowl with the Tennessee Titans. He shared the distinction with Peyton Manning. Mahomes obtained in 2018 and Lamar Jacksonof the Baltimore Ravens in 2019.
McNair, in addition, was one of the four African-American quarterbacks who played in the Super Bowl, but lost it, along with Wilson, Colin Kaepernick y Cam Newton.
They all snubbed stereotypes to achieve success.
Jackson once recounted that a talent scout from Los Angeles Chargers He asked him to try out another position at the NFL Combine in 2018. The Ravens decided to select him 32nd overall in the draft and he won MVP in his second season.
Donovan McNabb, a six-time Pro Bowl quarterback who started five NFC Finals for the Eagles, said he was recommended by some college scouts to play either running back or wide receiver. He persisted in his position, enrolling at Syracuse to play quarterback and was taken by Philadelphia with the No. 2 pick in 1999.
Christmas HurtsThe 24-year-old made his NFL debut in 2020 as a versatile quarterback after being taken by the Eagles in the second round of the draft. As a substitute for Carson Wentzhad few opportunities before taking over as the team’s quarterback.
He never forgot that the decision to select him in the second round of the 2020 draft was highly criticized by the press and fans.
“During my first year, people maybe didn’t even want me here,” he recalled after the 31-7 win over san francisco 49ers at the end of the National Conference.
Kansasmeanwhile, suffered to win by 22 to 23 to Cincinnati Bengals in the american conference.
Neither Hurts nor Mahomes celebrated the victories that deposited their respective teams in the most important game in the league. The main objective is pending. And they both want another win.
“I really don’t know how to react to be honest. You worked very hard to find yourself in this position and I will be forever grateful,” Hurts said. “Only God knows the things each person on this team had to overcome to come together and do something special as a group. It’s the most important thing. I’m always looking to go out there and do my best no matter what’s going on. I don’t want to let the team down.” who is by my side. That makes us all have to give more effort”.
Hurts, a finalist along with Mahomes for the AP MVP and Offensive Player of the Year awards, missed two games late in the season with a shoulder injury. The Eagles didn’t have to lean on his arm as they picked up two comfortable playoff victories. He has just 275 passing yards and two passing touchdowns, racking up 73 rushing yards and two scores.
Despite an ankle injury, Mahomes pulled the Chiefs afloat to see the Bengals clash to reach their third Super Bowl in four years.
“I want to thank God. He healed my body this week,” said Mahomes, who finished with 326 passing yards and two passing touchdowns. “Our defense gave us another chance and I knew I was going to get it somehow. We’re going to be ready for the Super Bowl.”
Only a quarterback can win the title. Whether it’s Hurts or Mahomes, this Super Bowl LVII will mark a milestone in the long and hard-fought history of African-American quarterbacks in the NFL.
The first SB with a duel of brothers
The Super Bowl that will decide the champion of the 2022 season will also be the first in history that will have two brothers on the field, with different shirts, Jason y Travis Kelcetwo great stars of the teams that will compete for the trophy Vince Lombardi.
Jason, 35, is the center for Philadelphia. He came to the NFL in 2011, when the Eagles selected him sixth overall, and he was always part of the starting team. He was champion of Super Bowl LII, which closed the 2017 season. He was also chosen 5 times for the All Pro Team and 6 for the Pro Bowls.
Travis, 33 and tight end from Kansas, was chosen by the Chiefs in the third round of the 2013 Draft. He participated eight times in the Pro Bowl and four appearances in the All Pro team. And he shouted champion in the LIV edition of the league final, which crowned the best franchise of 2019.
There is a history of brotherly dueling in the Super Bowl, but it happened on the bench. It is that in the XLVII edition, the Ravens trained by John Harbaugh they beat the 49ers 34 to 31, whose coach was his brother Jim.
*With information from AP, AFP and EFE
