The upcoming Super Bowl LVII will be historic as it features the first-ever matchup between two Black starting quarterbacks, with Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs and Jalen Hurts of the Philadelphia Eagles set to lead their teams on football’s biggest stage.
While Black quarterbacks have previously played in the Super Bowl, this is the first time both teams will have Black quarterbacks starting. Mahomes, who led the Chiefs to a Super Bowl victory in 2020, is looking to become the first Black quarterback to win multiple Super Bowls.
On the other hand, Hurts has the opportunity to become the fourth Black quarterback to win the Lombardi Trophy. Doug Williams was the first Black quarterback to win the Super Bowl, leading the Washington Redskins to victory in 1988, followed by Russell Wilson with the Seattle Seahawks in 2014 and Mahomes in 2020.
Mahomes, battling through an ankle injury, played a crucial role in the Chiefs’ 23-20 win over the Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC Championship game. Despite the injury, the 27-year-old threw for 326 yards and two touchdowns. He downplayed his excitement after the game, telling CBS, “I don’t think we have any cigars, but we’ll be ready to go at the Super Bowl.”
Earlier in the day, Hurts surpassed Cam Newton to set a new record for the most rushing touchdowns in a single season by a quarterback, helping the Eagles secure a 31-7 victory over the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship game. Reflecting on his Super Bowl berth, Hurts expressed mixed emotions, saying, “I don’t really know how to feel, to be honest.
You work really hard to put yourself in this position and I’m forever grateful. Only God knows the things that each individual on this team has been able to overcome for us to come together as a team and do something special as a group.”
Both quarterbacks have demonstrated resilience and excellence, setting the stage for a groundbreaking Super Bowl showdown.