NFL Players Who Embody Black Greatness

The NFL is the home to some of the greatest black athletes in the world. The Hall of Fame is lined with some of the greatest black players we have ever seen and there are a ton of future inductees playing right now. In fact, research has found that the greatest share of players by ethnic group in the NFL were black or African American athletes with 56%.

There are a few reasons that this could be the case, but the overriding one is the socioeconomic status which unfortunately limits many Black Americans. This means they are more likely to take up sports that require less financial investment in regard to equipment and access to facilities. This is why we see so many black athletes in the NFL, NBA, and on running tracks, in which they are frequently excelling.

So many have brought an incredible amount of pride to the black community since the sport got its professional start. Fritz Pollard first broke the color line in 1920 and paved the way for those who came after him. Black excellence shines not just on the field though, but off it as well. Let’s take a look at current and past players who have done so.

Colin Kaepernick

An unfortunately polarizing figure in the NFL, Kap’s efforts in highlighting racial injustice and oppression may have cost him his career. However, he helped to shine a light that is still being shone now. In the wake of the fatal police shootings of Alton Sterling, Philando Castile, Charles Kinsey, and the acquittal of police in the death of Freddie Gray, the quarterback used his position as a public figure to make a statement.

While playing for current Super Bowl odds favorites the San Fransisco 49ers in a preseason game, reporter Steve Wyche noticed Kaepernick sitting down during the playing of “The Star-Spangled Banner”, as opposed to the tradition of standing. During a post-game interview, Kaepernick explained his position stating, “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color. To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way”.

This is a practice that then caught fire in the league with many of his counterparts taking a stand by him and kneeling down. Kaepernick has continued to use his voice in the seven years since and his bravery in jeopardizing his career for the sake of a bigger cause cannot go unnoticed.

Richard Sherman

From one 49er to another, Richard Sherman is more than just one of the best cornerbacks in football history. A product of Compton, California, Sherman kept out of trouble by focusing on sports and academics. His humble beginnings have never been lost on him however and he has long been focused on giving back to the communities he came from.

In 2013, he and his wife Ashley founded Blanket Coverage, the Richard Sherman Family Foundation, “an organization built on supporting the economic and educational advancement for young people of color”. He has personality donated thousands to schools in California, including $23,000 to relieve the lunch debt of students in the Tacoma School District. Sherman’s work for communities in California is second to none and as one of the most elite cornerbacks the NFL has ever seen, he can be a role model for all.

Calais Campbell

A star defensive end for the Atlanta Falcons, Calais Campbell’s efforts off the field are just as important. He won the Walter Payton Man of The Year Award in 2019 for his work in setting up the CRC Foundation. Named in honor of his late father, Charles Richard Campbell, The CRC Foundation is “committed to making the world a better place by developing our community to reach its full potential through mentorship, education, and providing resources.”. During the 2019 regular season, he donated up to $20,000 every month to an impactful charity. The Veteran has consistently given back to his community throughout his career and continues to do so in the twilight of his career.

Clem Daniels, Art Powell, Bo Roberson, and Fred Williamson

While a write up could come for all four of these individually, it was what they did together that made the most waves. Their story is one that is perhaps forgotten about unjustly and dates all the way back to 1963. In August of that year, their Oakland Raiders team was scheduled to play the New York Jets at Ladd Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Alabama in the Senior Bowl. The problem here was that Mobile was steeped in segregation. Despite the Raiders’ players being world-class athletes, they were mandated to sleep and eat at lower-quality establishments than their white teammates before playing.

The four men named refused — protesting the game and refusing to play under such disgusting mandates. They were then joined in protest by Proverb Jacobs and Eugene White before being backed by then coach and General Manager Al Davis. The game was then relocated and thanks to these brave men fighting to play on a level playing field, the color line that was still present at times in the NFL slowly began to wither away. It is important that their efforts are forever remembered and without them, we may not be where we are today.

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Tags: American Football, Black excellence, Black Greatness, Football, Hall of Fame, NFL, sports

About the Author

Dr. Jerry Doby Editor-in-Chief of The Hype Magazine, Media and SEO Consultant, Journalist, Ph.D. and retired combat vet. 2023 recipient of The President's Lifetime Achievement Award. Partner at THM Media Group. Member of the U.S. Department of Arts and Culture, the United States Press Agency and ForbesBLK.