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HBCU Football: 10 of the best players of all time

By Dante Pryor

Tennessee Titans quarterback Steve McNair (9) scrambles out of the pocket during the game against the Jaguars at Alltell Stadium in Jacksonville Dec. 22, 2002. The Titans defeated their AFC South foe 28-10.021222 B
Tennessee Titans quarterback Steve McNair (9) scrambles out of the pocket during the game against the Jaguars at Alltell Stadium in Jacksonville Dec. 22, 2002. The Titans defeated their AFC South foe 28-10.021222 B /
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Dec 16, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Grambling State Tigers former head coach Doug Williams on the sideline before a game against the North Carolina A&T Aggies in the 2017 Celebration Bowl Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 16, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Grambling State Tigers former head coach Doug Williams on the sideline before a game against the North Carolina A&T Aggies in the 2017 Celebration Bowl Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports /

8. Doug Williams, QB/HC, Grambling State

Former Grambling State legend Doug Williams had quite the journey to get to Super Bowl XXII, throwing four touchdowns in the second quarter. For Williams, it starts at Chaneyville High School in Zachary, La. After a stellar career in high school, Williams would take his talents to Grambling, La., to play for the legendary coach, Eddie Robinson.

While at Grambling, Williams was a four-year starter, winning 36 games and three SWAC championships. In Williams’ senior year, 1977, he threw for 3,286 yards and 38 touchdowns, leading the nation in yards from scrimmage. His fourth-place finish in the Heisman was the highest by a quarterback from an HBCU.

Despite having the best season by a quarterback in the country, Williams did not get much attention from the NFL. It was a young offensive coordinator from the expansion Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Joe Gibbs, who would work Williams out. Gibbs convinced Tampa to take Williams with their first draft pick.

After leading the Buccaneers to the NFC title game in 1979, Hugh Culverhouse and Williams could not settle a contract dispute. Williams decided to join the USFL in 1984. After two seasons with the USFL, the league shut down, and Williams was without a job.

Coming full circle, no one had much interest in Williams except for Joe Gibbs, who was not the head coach of the Washington Football Team. Williams, stepping in for injured quarterback Jay Schroeder, led the Football Team to the Super Bowl, where he became the first black quarterback to win a Super Bowl.

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