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Charles W. Follis, Halfback, Wooster Played 1902-06 with the Shelby Athletic Club. First documented evidence of his playing for pay is for the season of 1904, although recent evidence suggests that the Shelby Athletic Club was professional as early as 1902. Charles (Doc) Baker, Halfback, no college Played 1906-08 and 1911 for the Akron Indians Henry McDonald, Halfback, Canandaigua Academy Played 1911-17 for the Rochester Jeffersons Gideon (Charlie) Smith, Tackle, Michigan Agricultural Played one game (November 28, 1915) for the Canton Bulldogs
Frederick (Fritz) Pollard, Back, Brown | [HOF Bio>>>] Played 1919-1921, 1925-26 Akron, 1922 Milwaukee, 1923, 1925 Hammond, 1925 Providence Robert (Rube) Marshall, End, Minnesota Played 1919-1921 Rock Island, 1925 Duluth Paul Robeson, End, Rutgers Played 1921 Akron, 1922 Milwaukee Jay (Inky) Williams, End, Brown Played 1921 Canton, 1921-26 Hammond, 1924 Dayton, 1925 Cleveland John Shelbourne, Back, Dartmouth Played 1922 Hammond Fred (Duke) Slater, Tackle, Iowa Played 1922 Milwaukee, 1922-25 Rock Island, 1926 Rock Island (AFL), 1926-1931 Chicago Cardinals James Turner, Back, Northwestern Played 1923 Milwaukee Sol Butler, Back, Dubuque Played 1923 Rock Island, 1923-24, 1926 Hammond, 1924 Akron, 1926 Canton Dick Hudson, Back, no college Played 1923 Minneapolis, 1925-26 Hammond Harold Bradley, Guard, Iowa Played 1928 Chicago Cardinals David Myers, Guard/Back, New York University Played 1930 Staten Island, 1931 Brooklyn Joe Lillard, Back, Oregon Played 1932-1933 Chicago Cardinals Ray Kemp, Tackle, Duquesne Played 1933 Pittsburgh
Kenny Washington, Halfback, UCLA Played with San Francisco Clippers (PCPFL) 1944-45. Signed a contract with the Los Angeles Rams on March 21, 1946; played 1946-48 with the Rams Woody Strode, End, UCLA Signed a contract with the Los Angeles Rams May 7, 1946. Played with the Rams 1946 only. Played with Calgary Stampeders (WIFU) 1948 Bill Willis, Guard, Ohio State | [HOF Bio>>>] Signed a contract with the Cleveland Browns of the All-America Football Conference on August 6, 1946. Played 1946-1953 with the Browns Marion Motley, Fullback, South Carolina State; Nevada | [HOF Bio>>>] Signed a contract with the Cleveland Browns of the All-America Football Conference on August 9, 1946. Played 1946-1953 Cleveland Browns, 1955 Pittsburgh Steelers
First African-American drafted by an NFL club: George Taliaferro, halfback (Indiana). Picked by the Chicago Bears in the thirteenth round of the 1949 draft but elected to sign with the Los Angeles Dons of the AAFC. Played with the Dons 1949; New York Yanks 1950-51; Dallas 1952; Baltimore 1953-54; Philadelphia 1955 First African-American draftee to play in the NFL: Wally Triplett, halfback (Penn State). Picked by the Detroit Lions in the nineteenth round of the 1949 draft. Played with Detroit 1949-1950; Chicago Cardinals 1952-53 First name star from a predominantly African-American college: Paul (Tank) Younger, fullback-linebacker (Grambling). Los Angeles Rams 1949-1957; Pittsburgh 1958 First African-American quarterback in the NFL: Willie Thrower (Michigan State), Chicago Bears 1953 First African-American official: Burl Toler (San Francisco University), field judge/head linesman, 1965 to 1989 First African-American referree: Johnny Grier (University of D.C.), 1988 First pros from predominantly African-American schools: Ezzret Anderson, end (Kentucky State), Los Angeles Dons (AAFC), 1947; John Brown, center (North Carolina College), Los Angeles Dons (AAFC), 1947; Elmore Harris, halfback (Morgan State), Brooklyn, 1947 First African-American lineman to win all-league honors: AAFC-Bill Willis, guard (Ohio State), Cleveland, 1946; NFL-Bill Willis, guard, Cleveland, 1950 First African-American back to win all-league honors: AAFC-Marion Motley, fullback (South Carolina State; Nevada), Cleveland, 1946; NFL-Marion Motley, fullback, Cleveland, 1950 First African-American to win individual league statistical championship: AAFC-Marion Motley, fullback. Cleveland, 1946 (rushing); NFL-Marion Motley, fullback, Cleveland, 1950 (rushing) First African-American elected to Pro Football Hall of Fame: Emlen Tunnell, defensive back (Iowa), New York Giants 1949-1958, Green Bay 1959-1961: elected 1967
First African-American starting quarterback in a Super Bowl: Doug Williams, Washington Redskins, Super Bowl XXII (following the 1987 season)
First African-American general manager: Ozzie Newsome, Baltimore Ravens, 2002 First African-American referree in a Super Bowl: Mike Carey, Super Bowl XLII
First African-American head coach: Fritz Pollard, 1921 Akron, 1925 Hammond First African-American head coach, modern era: Art Shell, 1989 Los Angeles Raiders First African-American assistant coach: Lowell Perry, 1957 Pittsburgh Steelers
First African-American head coach to take team to Super Bowl: Lovie Smith, 2006 Chicago Bears; Tony Dungy, 2006 Indianapolis Colts