With Super Bowl Sunday almost here, let’s play a 10-question round of African American Super Bowl trivia before the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots square off in Santa Clara, California.
Who was the first Black player to score a Super Bowl touchdown?
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Curtis McClinton caught a 7-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Len Dawson in the second quarter of Super Bowl I in Los Angeles. It tied the score 7-7, but the Green Bay Packers won 35-10.
Who was the first defensive player to score a Super Bowl touchdown?
Green Bay Packers cornerback Herb Adderley intercepted a Daryle Lamonica pass and returned it 60 yards for a touchdown in Super Bowl II in Miami. Green Bay beat the Oakland Raiders 33-14.
Who was the first player to return a Super Bowl kickoff for a touchdown?
Fulton Walker of the Miami Dolphins returned a kickoff 98 yards against the Washington Redskins in Super Bowl XVII in Pasadena, California. The Redskins prevailed 27-17. There have been 10 Super Bowl kickoff returns for touchdowns in history; Devin Hester of the Chicago Bears is the only player to record one on the opening kickoff (Super Bowl XLI).
Who was the first Black head coach to win the Super Bowl?
Tony Dungy led the Indianapolis Colts to a 29-17 victory over the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XLI on Feb. 4, 2007, in Miami. Lovie Smith was Bears head coach, which guaranteed a Black head coach would become part of Super Bowl history.
Who was the first Black player to be named Super Bowl Most Valuable Player?
Franco Harris rushed for 158 yards and scored a touchdown in the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 16-6 win over the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl IX in New Orleans to earn the MVP award.
Who was the first Black quarterback to start in a Super Bowl?
Doug Williams of the Washington Redskins was the first Black quarterback to both start and win a Super Bowl. The Redskins fell behind the Denver Broncos 10-0 in Super Bowl XXII in San Diego, and Williams suffered an apparent serious knee injury in the first quarter. He threw four touchdown passes in the second quarter, and the Redskins won 42-10.
What record did St. Louis Rams receiver Torry Holt reach in the Super Bowl?
Torry Holt set a Super Bowl rookie reception yards record with 107 yards on seven catches. His nine-yard TD reception from Kurt Warner gave the Rams a 16-0 lead over the Tennessee Titans, and St. Louis prevailed 23-16 in Super Bowl XXXIV in Atlanta on Jan. 30, 2000.
Who made the game-saving defensive play “The Tackle,” which preserved the Rams’ win in the 2000 Super Bowl?
Linebacker Mike Jones stopped Titans’ receiver Kevin Dyson at the one-yard line on the final play of Super Bowl XXXIV on Jan. 30, 2000. Following the 2000 season, the Rams cut Jones and several veterans in salary-cap moves.
Who scored New England’s first touchdown when the Patriots upset the heavily favored St. Louis Rams in 2002?
Ty Law returned an interception 47 yards for a touchdown in the Patriots’ 20-17 win in Super Bowl XXXVI on Feb. 3, 2002, in New Orleans.
What player has scored the most points in Super Bowl history?
San Francisco 49ers Hall of Fame receiver Jerry Rice scored 48 points in the four Super Bowls in which he participated.
The Reid Roundup
African American official Shawn Smith will serve as head referee for Super Bowl LX on Sunday in Santa Clara, California…While the first Super Bowl was played following the 1966 NFL and NFL seasons, a Black man did not serve as head referee for a Super Bowl until Mike Carey worked Super Bowl XLII in Glendale, Arizona, on Feb. 3, 2008…Dallas Cowboys great Emmitt Smith has the most rushing touchdowns in Super Bowl history with five…Patrick Mahomes’ nine Super Bowl touchdown passes rank him third behind Tom Brady (21) and Joe Montana (10)…Of 10 open coaching slots when the NFL season ended, eight had been filled as of Tuesday. No Black coaches have been hired. Vance Joseph, Denver Broncos defensive coordinator, could still land either the Arizona or Las Vegas positions. Don’t hold your breath.