Harris, James 'Shack'
1947- · Contribution: 1969
Football quarterback and executive
First Black quarterback to start a season opener in the AFL or NFL (1969); first to start and win an NFL playoff game, and first named Pro Bowl MVP (1974)
Portraits are AI-generated interpretations, not photographs.
Quick facts
- Born
- 1947, Monroe, Louisiana
- Active since
- 1969
- Category
- Sports & Athletics
- Best known for
- Pioneering Black NFL quarterback
Impact on the world
Harris broke the barrier at a position long denied to Black players on the assumption they couldn't lead, opening the path that Doug Williams and generations after would follow.
Sources
- Pro Football Hall of Fame
1 more sources and references are available to members.
Related visionaries
Williams, Doug
1955-
First Black quarterback to start and win a Super Bowl, and to be named Super Bowl MVP
Pollard, Fritz
1894-1986
One of the first two African American players in the NFL; first Black head coach in professional sports history
Washington, Kenny
1918-1971
First African American to sign an NFL contract in the modern post-World War II era
Dungy, Tony
1955-
First African American head coach to win a Super Bowl