Atlanta exhibit chronicles the rise of African American college quarterbacks

ATLANTA —  A new exhibit in downtown Atlanta is shining a spotlight on the long-overlooked journey of Black quarterbacks in American football. “Ascension: The Rise of the Black Quarterback,” now open at the College Football Hall of Fame, tells the story of perseverance, discrimination, and ultimate triumph—through the voices of the athletes who lived it.

For decades, Black quarterbacks were routinely questioned not for their physical ability, but for their intelligence and leadership.  “Are you skilled enough mentally to know how to digest and interpret and reflect a full playbook? Are you smart enough?” said Yomand Brown, Vice President of Communications and Marketing at the College Football Hall of Fame.

The exhibit uses first-person narration from the athletes themselves, chronicling how they navigated discrimination both on and off the field. Many of those stories highlight the critical role of HBCUs, which provided rare opportunities for Black athletes to lead offenses when predominantly white programs would not.

One of the most notable examples is Steve McNair, the late NFL MVP who attended Alcorn State University. For McNair and many others, HBCUs weren’t just a stepping stone—they were often the only door open.   

Beyond gameplay, the exhibit examines how Black quarterbacks were portrayed by the media, perceived by teammates, and received in communities where diversity was scarce.  “How did the media cover me? How was I perceived by my peers?” Brown said. “Was I able to integrate myself into certain communities that didn’t have a diverse population?”

The exhibit features trailblazers like Jimmy Jones of USC, the first Black quarterback to appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated; Doug Williams of Grambling State, who became the first Black quarterback to start and win a Super Bowl; and Don McPherson of Syracuse, whose career was derailed by injuries but still earned him a place in the university’s Hall of Fame.  “Even modern-day Syracuse has an African American head coach,” Brown said. “Some of these stories are showing us how you can pay it forward.”

That progress is clearly visible in today’s NFL. For the first time in league history, Black quarterbacks now make up half of all starters, including stars like Lamar Jackson, Caleb Williams, Bryce Young, and Jayden Daniels. Players such as Jameis Winston and College Park native Cam Newton helped pave the way, each accomplishing the rare feat of winning both the Heisman Trophy and a college national championship in the same year. 

Still, the exhibit does not shy away from the reality that challenges remain.  “Some of these challenges that these quarterbacks have faced, they still face nowadays,” Brown said. “We want to show not only an exhibit that impacted our past, but bring it forward and let everyone know that if given the opportunity, you too can succeed.”