Marlin “The Magician” Briscoe shattered professional football’s racial barriers, cementing his legacy as the first Black starting quarterback in the modern era.
Football Bio
September 10, 1945 – Marlon Briscoe, the former University of Nebraska at Omaha quarterback, was born.
He was nicknamed the Magician, as he often performed some amazing feats on the gridiron.
The Magician had a 27-11 college record and led his Nebraska teams to three conference titles; he held 22 school records when he left.
Briscoe became the first African-American starting quarterback in American professional football when he took over signal calling for the Denver Broncos in the 1968 season.
He played in the league for nine seasons, and the College Football Hall of Fame selected him for its 2016 class. [National Football Foundation]
Marlin Briscoe transformed the professional football landscape and paved the way for future generations of athletes, leaving a historic, championship-winning mark on the game.
Accolades and Football Accomplishments
- Became the first Black starting quarterback in the Super Bowl era (Denver Broncos, 1968).
- Set the Denver Broncos rookie franchise record for passing touchdowns (14) in just five starts.
- Won two Super Bowl Championships (VII, VIII) as a wide receiver with the Miami Dolphins, including the historic undefeated 1972 season.
- Selected to the Pro Bowl in 1970 after leading the AFC in receiving yards (1,036) and receiving touchdowns (8) for the Buffalo Bills.
- Named First-team All-Pro in 1970.
- Inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2016.
- Inducted into the Nebraska Football Hall of Fame.
Celebrate Football History With Your Collection
"Heads up: A few links in this description are affiliate links. That means if you click through and grab something, I might get a small cut that helps keep the lights on here—at zero additional cost to you!"
- Bud McFadin: Texas Longhorn Legend & Hall of Fame Lineman
- Unstoppable Edge: The Dominant Gridiron Journey of DeMarcus Ware
- Floyd Little: Syracuse Legend & Pro Football Hall of Famer
- Shannon Sharpe: The Hall of Fame Tight End Who Redefined the GridironMeta Description:
- The Lock-Down Standard: The Gridiron Journey and Legacy of Champ Bailey
- Al Wilson: Tennessee Vols Legend & Hall of Fame Linebacker
- Richard Wood: The Three-Time USC All-American Legend
- Dré Bly: The Record-Shattering ACC Pass Master
- Rod Smith: The Small-School Legend Who Conquered the NFL
- Bill Romanowski: The Unyielding Force of the Gridiron
- The Sheriff: Peyton Manning’s Legendary Journey from Rocky Top to Canton
- Randy Gradishar: The “Orange Crush” General and Ohio State Icon
- The Two-City Legend: The Storied Career of Craig Morton
- Football History of January 25
- Mile High Heartbreak: Broncos Outlast Bills in AFC Divisional Overtime Thriller
- Heartbreak at Mile High: Reliving “The Fumble” and the 1987 AFC Championship
- Doomsday in the Dome: The Defensive Masterclass of Super Bowl XII
- The Rock of the Rattlers: Tyrone McGriff, The Unforgettable Guard Who Defined Florida A&M Football
- The Drive: John Elway’s 98-Yard Miracle That Defined a Dynasty
- Gary Zimmerman: The Iron Anchor Who Dominated the NFL Trenches for Two Decades
- Denver Broncos History
- The Embodiment of ‘Commitment to Excellence’: The Enduring Legacy of Willie Brown
- Football History of November 15
- The Trailblazer: Otis Armstrong, Purdue’s Record Breaker and Denver’s First NFL Rushing King
- Turning Down Baseball: The Unwavering Choice of All-American Linebacker Ricky Hunley
- “Big Al” Williams: Anchor of a National Champion
- Terrell Davis
- The Intimidator: Celebrating the Hard-Hitting Legacy of Steve Atwater
- Brian Dawkins: Eagles High-Flying Safety
- The Dual-Threat Buff: Bobby Anderson’s Record-Shattering Career at Colorado and Beyond
- John Elway
- John Lynch
- Floyd Little
