Year of the Black quarterback!

Glendale, AZ — NFL year 100 is off to a great start for everyone except Collin Kaepernick. The season opens with more black quarterbacks starting than ever: Arizona’s Kyler Murray, Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson, Carolina’s Cam Newton, Dallas’ Dak Prescott, Houston’s Deshawn Watson, Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes, Seattle’s Russell Wilson, Indianapolis’ Jacoby Brissett and Tampa Bay’s Jameis Winston.

That’s nine black starters among 32 NFL teams and cities, making 2019 the year of the black quarterback.

Mahomes is the NFL MVP. Wilson has won a Super Bowl before and led his team, Seattle, to two Super Bowls. Newton has also led his team, Carolina, to the Super Bowl. If we could just get Kaepernick a job, we would have three quarterbacks with previous Super Bowl experience.

I was in Arizona to witness the debut NFL game of rookie sensation quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Kyler Murray. Murray did not disappoint: He threw two fourth-quarter touchdowns, one to Larry Fitzgerald, Jr., to help lead the comeback Cardinals to a 27-27 tie with Detroit. Asked about Fitzgerald, the 16-year-veteran Murray said, “He’s still got it.”

The Lions led 24-6 in that game. Fitzgerald had eight catches for 113 yards and a touchdown. Murray threw for 308 yards in his first game. He was the first pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.

Dallas quarterback Prescott threw four touchdowns in the Cowboys’ 35-17 win over New York. Baltimore Ravens QB Lamar Jackson was sensational, completing 17-20 for 324 yards and five touchdown passes in the Ravens’ 59-10 win over Miami. Pat Mahomes, the reigning MVP in the NFL, threw three touchdown passes in Kansas City’s 40-26 win over Jacksonville.

Deshaun Watson of Houston is the first quarterback in NFL history to throw for 4,165 yards and 26 touchdown passes and rush for 551 yards and five touchdowns in a single season. He is also one of four quarterbacks in NFL history, along with Pat Mahomes, Dan Marino and Kurt Warner, to throw for 40 touchdown passes in his first 20 career games.
These are just a few of the great achievements by these players. They are all great players, and they are playing great football in NFL season 100.

Larry Fitzgerald can be heard weekday mornings on KMOJ Radio 89.9 FM at 8:25 am, on WDGY-AM 740 Monday and Friday at 9:10 am, and at www.Gamedaygold.com. He also commentates on sports 7-8 pm on Almanac (TPT channel 2). Follow him on Twitter at FitzBeatSr. Larry welcomes reader responses to info@larry-fitzgerald.com or visit Larry-Fitzgerald.com.