Marlin Briscoe, the first black man to start quarterback at AFL, dies at age 76

Marlin Briscoe, the first black man to start a quarterback in the American Football League more than 50 years ago, died on Monday.

His daughter, Angela Marriott, told The Associated Press that 76-year-old Brisco had died of pneumonia at a hospital in Norwalk, California. He was hospitalized for circulatory problems in his legs.

Originally from Omaha, Nebraska, Briscoe was a star quarterback at Omaha University before Denver Broncos drafted him as a cornerback in the 14th round of 1968. Try it in quarterback. Denver agreed to audition, and a 5-foot 10 dynamo called the “magician” led Broncos almost to victory on September 29 as a reserve against the Boston Patriots before making a historic start on October 6. rice field.

“He has made a huge contribution to this sport,” said Marriott. “I hope his contributions will continue to be recognized. He was very proud of the results.”

Briscoe started five games that season. He was the runner-up of this year’s AFL rookie after passing 1,589 yards and 14 touchdowns and rushing through 308 yards and 3 scores.

Denver didn’t give him the opportunity to compete for a quarterback job in 1969, so he asked him to be released. He became a Pro Bowl receiver at Buffalo Bills.

James Harris was a roommate for Bills and Briscoe in 1969, and Briscoe helped Harris become AFL’s first black quarterback to start the season as a starter.

“It was a time when the black quarterback was being rejected, so I tried to make sure I was ready when the chance came. I was fine all the time because Briscoe was my roommate,” Harris said. rice field.

In 1974, Harris played for the Los Angeles Rams and became the first black quarterback to win the NFL playoff game. He was also the Pro Bowl MVP of the season.

Meanwhile, Briscoe won two Super Bowls at the Miami Dolphins. He was the receiver of the 1972 Dolphins team after the perfect season.

Briscoe never forgot the fact that he lost his first job in Denver without explanation.

“It bothered him. He made the switch, but he was disappointed. To still achieve what he did under such circumstances-frustration, disappointment-high achievement in another position. I needed a special make-up, a special man to concentrate enough to be a person. “

Brisco was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2016, and Broncos nominated a Diversity Coaching Fellow in honor of him before the 2021 season.

After the day of his play, Briscoe remained open about racial injustice. He was proud to move his needle in 1968, but was disappointed that much of the progress made in his time was lost, he told The Associated Press in 2018. Did.

“I grew up in the 50’s and 60’s, all of which was rampant, but you knew where you were,” says Briscoe. “Today you thought all those attitudes were absent or filtered to some extent, but by Trumpism his philosophy was born from the woodworking of the old thinking process. That’s scary — That’s really true. “