Thread by @TheUndefeated

Today we celebrate Fritz Pollard, a pro football pioneer, who in 1923 became the first African-American to play quarterback in the NFL.

#BlackHistoryAlways

In 1915, as a football star at Brown University, Pollard became the first African-American to play in the Rose Bowl and the second African-American college football player to be named an All-American

📷 @BrownUniversity

@BrownUniversity At 5-foot-9 and 165 pounds, while playing in an era long before football became a passing game, Pollard’s speed and athleticism made him a natural halfback — the same position for which he’d ultimately be inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2005.

📷 @ProFootballHOF

@BrownUniversity @ProFootballHOF In 1921, two years before pioneering the quarterback position, he was named the co-coach of the Akron Pros, making him the first African-American head coach in NFL history.

“I wanted the honor of being the first black coach more than anything else.”

@BrownUniversity @ProFootballHOF Today we celebrate Marshall “Major” Taylor, who was an African-American cyclist who raced in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

Taylor was America’s first Black sports star.

#BlackHistoryAlways

@BrownUniversity @ProFootballHOF Taylor started competing professionally at age 18. His first pro event was The Six Day Race at Madison Square Garden – the most prominent race in the world. Taylor finished eighth.

@BrownUniversity @ProFootballHOF Within two years, Taylor held seven world records. He became a national and international champion in 1899 -- joining boxer George Dixon as the only Black athletes to win a world championship at that time. At his peak, he was the nation’s most famous and successful Black athlete.

@BrownUniversity @ProFootballHOF Major Taylor almost always competed against white racers.

This was before Jack Johnson became world heavyweight champion, and a half-century before Jackie Robinson broke the color line in Major League Baseball.

It would be Taylor who paved the way.