LISTEN: Washington QB Legend Doug Williams Talks 'Significant' Super Bowl, Black History
The NFL held 21 Super Bowls before Doug Williams, who is currently the Washington Commanders' senior advisor to the team president, quarterbacked a team to the big game.
And not only did he lead Washington into Super Bowl XXII, but his team also won it, and he was the game's MVP in a 42-10 victory over the Denver Broncos.
It's a day, and a game, that Williams says he thinks about on a daily basis.
"I know how significant it is to me, my family, and to Black America, we're talking history," Williams said in a recent appearance on the Locked On Commanders podcast. "Had it been Randall Cunningham, Warren Moon, anybody like that I think I'd feel the same way about what transpired."
Super Bowl XXII is remembered as being more historic than many others because Williams was the first Black quarterback to start a Super Bowl.
Leaving it, he was the first to win one, and be named the MVP of the game itself.
35 years later Super Bowl LVII will be the first where both teams have Black quarterbacks starting for them.
And while much of the talk leading up to the big game will be about that fact, Williams says it's important for the two men to focus on the game, and not what it means off the field.
"Never put pressure on yourself," Williams said. "I thought the most important thing was not to get wrapped up into being a Black quarterback. I knew what color I was...I didn't go there thinking I gotta do this because I'm Black."
Jalen Hurts of the Philadelphia Eagles and Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs have certainly been aware of their skin color throughout their lives as well.
And each will certainly be reminded of it plenty as the weekend grows closer.
But those are conversations outside of their control, just as it was outside of Williams' leading up to his historic moment.
"I said this then. When it's over with you can color me any color you want," Williams said. "I know it was a significant day for Black history, for America, but more than Black folks (were) pulling for Doug Williams...at the end of the day, we were able to win the game, but at the other end of it enjoy what came with it."
It took 22 Super Bowls for a Black quarterback to start one.
And 12 more after that for another.
26 years after Williams led Washington to victory, Russell Wilson was the second Black quarterback to win one, his with the Seattle Seahawks.
It took 32 years for another Black quarterback to win MVP of the NFL's final game when Mahomes did it in Super Bowl LIV.
And now, 35 years after the first, we finally have two starting Black quarterbacks going head-to-head for the Lombardi Trophy.
Perhaps, Williams says, the best thing about this is that we can start to wrap up the conversations about Black quarterbacks crossing new thresholds.
Not because it isn't special to see them leading NFL franchises, and winning while doing it.
But because it's becoming normal.
Find David Harrison on Twitter @DHarrison82 and on the Locked On Commanders podcast.
Get your Washington Commanders game tickets from SI Tickets HERE!
Want the latest in breaking news and insider information on the Washington Commanders? Click Here.
Follow Commander Country on Twitter.
Want even more Washington Commanders news? Check out the Si.com team page here
