Warren Moon - Pro Football Hall of Fame

[Hardatwork]

Congrats to Warren Moon for becoming the first black quarterback to make it into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Equally impressive was his induction speech where he thanked the CFL for allowing him the opportunity to play quarterback when no NFL team would give him the opportunity. He also thanked Canadians for being so accepting. Good on you Warren for remembering your roots!

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060805/moon_nfl_060805/20060805?hub=TopStories&s_name=

 

[JustAGuy]

If the six years he played in Edmonton had been played in the NFL, Warren Moon would likely own every passing record in that league. However if he hadn't spent those years in Edmonton, he'd have never been given the chance to show what he could do in the NFL. Nine times selected to play in the Pro Bowl, he's a classy guy well deserving of his place in Canton, Ohio's Pro Football Hall of Fame.

 

[dirtydan]

NFL vs CFL

Until Doug Flutie came along I always argued that Warren Moon was the best QB to have played in the CFL, despite playing for the Eskimos for 6 seasons. The first pro QB to throw for 5000 yards, right on the nose in 1982 and the first to have back to back 5000 yard seasons with over 5600 yards in 1983. The CFL has always been a bit more progressive towards non-caucasian players than the NFL. Just ask other QB's like Chuck Ealey, Condredge Holloway, Roy Dewalt and others.

I was at Moon's last CFL game in 1983, the West semi-final played in Winnipeg. A bittersweet moment after game ended with the Bombers winning. On one hand damn happy that the Bombers FINALLY beat the Esks in a playoff game after a good many years, but on the other hand watching Moon walk off from what was his last game in Canada.

On a side note, if more teams were owned and run like the Edmonton Eskimos then the CFL wouldn't be leaping from crisis to crisis. I'm a Bomber fan, but I recognize that the Esks are the classiest of the classy teams in the league. Which probably explains why they haven't missed the playoffs since something like 1971 or 1972.

 

[Bare_Facts]

Congrats to Warren Moon for becoming the first black quarterback to make it into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Equally impressive was his induction speech where he thanked the CFL for allowing him the opportunity to play quarterback when no NFL team would give him the opportunity. He also thanked Canadians for being so accepting. Good on you Warren for remembering your roots!

Eskimo fan or not (in my case not) you do have to give Moon credit both for being a great quarterback, and more importantly being a class act. Apparently, he even invited a few of his former Esk associates to the induction ceremony - Tom Wilkinson, Hugh Campbell, Dan Kepley, and the equipment manager. Supposedly Campbell was there, and Kepley was trying to make the flight connections from BC after the football game.

 

[wolverine]

On a side note, if more teams were owned and run like the Edmonton Eskimos then the CFL wouldn't be leaping from crisis to crisis. I'm a Bomber fan, but I recognize that the Esks are the classiest of the classy teams in the league. Which probably explains why they haven't missed the playoffs since something like 1971 or 1972.

They could be missing the playoffs this season, the way they're playing.

 

[Avery]

The CFL has always been a bit more progressive towards non-caucasian players than the NFL. Just ask other QB's like Chuck Ealey, Condredge Holloway, Roy Dewalt and others.

The first black quarterback to play in the CFL was Sandy Stephens in 1962 for the Montreal Alouettes. I was living there at the time, and I remember it well. It seems hard to believe now, but it was a huge story at the time, because of the prevailing "wisdom" that only Caucasians could play that position. Sandy wanted to play quarterback, but the NFL only saw him as a running back or receiver, so he opted to come to Canada, where he would be given an opportunity at quarterback. He wasn't all that successful in the CFL, but he opened the door for many great players who followed.

Of course, if you're talking about non-Caucasians in general, rather than blacks specifically, then I suppose "Indian Jack" Jacobs of The 1950-54 Winnipeg Blue Bombers was the first to play quarterback. However, the same prejudice didn't exist against natives, since he had played quarterback in the NFL.

 

[therealrex]

Of course, if you're talking about non-Caucasians in general, rather than blacks specifically, then I suppose "Indian Jack" Jacobs of The 1950-54 Winnipeg Blue Bombers was the first to play quarterback. However, the same prejudice didn't exist against natives, since he had played quarterback in the NFL.

Although gving him the nickname "Indian" wasn't all that open minded.

 

[JustAGuy]

Although gving him the nickname "Indian" wasn't all that open minded.

Different era, therealrex. If we judged our forefathers by the standards of today, every generation would be found sadly lacking, I think.

 

[dirtydan]

The first black quarterback to play in the CFL was Sandy Stephens in 1962 for the Montreal Alouettes. I was living there at the time, and I remember it well. It seems hard to believe now, but it was a huge story at the time, because of the prevailing "wisdom" that only Caucasians could play that position. Sandy wanted to play quarterback, but the NFL only saw him as a running back or receiver, so he opted to come to Canada, where he would be given an opportunity at quarterback. He wasn't all that successful in the CFL, but he opened the door for many great players who followed.

Of course, if you're talking about non-Caucasians in general, rather than blacks specifically, then I suppose "Indian Jack" Jacobs of The 1950-54 Winnipeg Blue Bombers was the first to play quarterback. However, the same prejudice didn't exist against natives, since he had played quarterback in the NFL.

Very true! Despite the NFL bringing in the colour barrier in the 20's or 30's, they permitted Native Americans to play. And during WW2 with many players opting to serve in the military, there was a bit of a shortage of players and Jacobs was able to get a shot. If I remember correctly he played for the Redskins and then the Packers before coming to the Blue Bombers. Jacobs was then the first pro QB to throw for more than 3000 yards in a season and for more than 30's in a season, both in 1951. When he retired after the 1954 season Jacobs had over 11,000 yards passing and was then the all-time leading passer.

BTW, Jesse "Sonny" Wade, was he white or black? Thanks.

 

[dirtydan]

Although gving him the nickname "Indian" wasn't all that open minded.

Yah, but it was a very different time when such blatant racism was very acceptable for honkies to flout.

 

[Avery]

BTW, Jesse "Sonny" Wade, was he white or black? Thanks.

He was white. Actually, he still is, since he's alive.

Although gving him the nickname "Indian" wasn't all that open minded.

As others have pointed out, it wasn't considered racist at that time. When he's mentioned nowadays, he's usually referred to as just Jack Jacobs, as he should be.