A Black QB in 1968 - Marlin Briscoe's Struggle

1968 was a tumultuous time in our nation.  Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated on April 4th.  Presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy was assassinated on June 5th, and there were riots at the Democratic convention in late August.  In October of that year, African-American athletes Tommie Smith and John Carlos gave the 'Black Power" salute at the Mexico City Olympics.

In the fall of 1968, Marlin Briscoe was waging a lesser known battle - the battle to become a starting quarterback in the American Football League (AFL).  Briscoe, who had been selected by the Denver Broncos out of the University of Nebraska-Omaha in the 14th round of the 1968 draft, was actually selected as a defensive back.  However, he requested a three-day trial at the quarterback position.  Although Briscoe didn't believe he would get a 'fair shake', he relished the opportunity to showcase his skills.  Marlin "The Magician" got his chance to play quarterback in his rookie year, mainly out of necessity.  The Denver Broncos of the late '60s were a bad football team, and Briscoe made the most of his opportunity.

Marlin Briscoe finished his rookie season with 93 completions on 224 attempts for 1,589 yards.  His 17.1 yards per completion led the AFL, and he threw 14 touchdown passes and only 13 interceptions.  Those statistics may not seem impressive in today's age of inflated video game statistics, but Briscoe was only one of four AFL quarterbacks to throw more TDs than interceptions in 1968.  The other three were Daryle Lamonica and Hall of Famers Len Dawson and Bob Griese.  Even Joe Namath, who later that season would make good on his Super Bowl 'guarantee', threw more interceptions than touchdowns.  Although Marlin Briscoe had a low completion percentage, that was also a sign of the times.  In the 1968 AFL, only Len Dawson and Bob Griese completed more than 50% of their passes.  Briscoe also chipped in with 308 rushing yards (on only 41 attempts) and 3 rushing touchdowns.  At that point in the history of the Denver Broncos, Marlin Briscoe was the ONLY QB in franchise history to finish a season with more passing TDs than interceptions, and he did it as a rookie.  In 1962, Denver sent a QB to the AFL All-Star game (Frank Tripucka), and even in that season he tossed 25 interceptions compared to 17 TDs.

After such a promising rookie season, Marlin Briscoe surely had proven himself.  He would be invited back in 1969 to battle for the starting quarterback position, right?  Sadly, the answer was a resounding no.  Briscoe would not receive a quarterbacking opportunity with Denver, so he asked for his release prior to the 1969 season.  Marlin signed with the Buffalo Bills in 1969 to play the position of flanker/wide receiver.  He caught 32 passes in 1969 and earned a spot on the 1970 Pro Bowl team when he broke the 1,000 yard barrier on 57 catches and scored 8 TDs.  Miami Dolphins fans remember Marlin Briscoe as a key performer on the Super Bowl teams of the early 1970s.  Briscoe signed with Miami before the 1972 undefeated season and he led the Dolphins in receptions in their 1973 championship season.  He only threw 9 passes in his career after his promising rookie season.

Although Marlin Briscoe was part of a perfect season and earned two Super Bowl rings, one could only wonder what was going through his mind when he saw that only white quarterbacks were given an opportunity to play the position.  When Briscoe signed with Miami, he was not given an opportunity to play the position.  He wasn't even the 2nd string quarterback.  Earl Morrall was signed to fill that position.  Briscoe was not even considered as the 3rd string quarterback.  That honor went to the undrafted Jim Del Gaizo.

We could only imagine the frustration that Marlin Briscoe could have felt when he saw that the Denver Broncos signed Pete Liske to be the backup quarterback in 1969.  After all, hadn't Briscoe shown enough during his rookie season to deserve a chance to compete?  For the record, Briscoe says that the incumbent starting QB, Steve Tensi, was a good man.  He apologized to Marlin Briscoe later and said there was nothing he could do.  But what about the decision to replace Briscoe with Pete Liske?  Liske's only pro experience prior to 1969 was FIVE years earlier, when he went 9 for 18 for 55 yards (and 2 interceptions) for the 1964 New York Jets.  Pete Liske was a 27 year old man who had been out of football for 5 years and who had never thrown a TD pass, but he ultimately became Steve Tensi's backup.  Fortunately for Pete Liske, his skin color was white.

What was going through Marlin Briscoe's mind when he saw white QBs fail but continue to receive opportunities?  Marty Domres, Terry Hanratty, and Bobby Douglass were drafted in 1969 but had poor rookie seasons.  These white QBs, however, remained in the NFL for several years.  Bobby Douglass, in particular, was a highly inaccurate quarterback and was a much better runner than passer.  Yet he survived in the NFL for ten years without being forced to change positions.  The NFL draft in 1969 is noteworthy for another reason.  There is only one quarterback from that draft who earned a Pro Bowl berth.  That was James Harris, a black quarterback who was the 7th QB selected, and he was not taken until the 8th round.  It took James Harris five seasons before he was given an opportunity to earn a starting job.  Domres, Hanratty, and Douglass did not have to wait nearly as long to receive their chance.

There were many black quarterbacks who paved the way for today's current starters - James Harris, Joe Gilliam, Vince Evans, Doug Williams, and then Warren Moon.  But we must not forget Marlin Briscoe, the man who attempted to pave the way but ran into a roadblock.

Sources for this blog:  http://www.20yardline.com/current/marlin-briscoe-the-first-black-nfl-starting-quarterback.html and http://www.pro-football-reference.com/   Also, I eagerly await this upcoming film:  http://www.marlinbriscoemovie.com/