Black History Month is upon us.
Triumph over adversities for persons of color has been highlighted since Carter G. Woodson first began.
To that end, it is fitting that the NFL, an organization called to task for diversity issues, bears February its first 2020 Black History Month fruit.
Yesterday, the Kansas City Chiefs took home their second Super Bowl championship after a 50-year drought. The Cinderella story of lead QB Patrick Mahomes, who made coming back from a losing game his signature, is legendary.
Mahomes, who is bi-racial and identifies as Black, also took home the MVP trophy. He also became the youngest quarterback to be named Super Bowl MVP. Mahomes now joins NFL GOAT Tom Brady as the only one to do so before turning 25.
Mahomes is the third-youngest Super Bowl MVP overall, trailing only Marcus Allen and Lynn Swann. He also became the youngest quarterback in NFL history, at 24 years, to win a Super Bowl and league MVP (2018).
With three consecutive touchdown drives in the fourth quarter, Mahomes helped the Chiefs erase a 10-point deficit to win Super Bowl LIV.
Lamar Leads The Way
Over the weekend, Baltimore Raves QB, Lamar Jackson was unanimously named the NFL’s Most Valuable Player.
The honor came 21 months after being the last pick in the first round of the 2018 NFL draft.
Jackson received all 50 votes to join Tom Brady (2010) as the only unanimous choice for the award. At 22 years old, Jackson became the third-youngest player to win the award. Hall of Fame running back, Jim Brown was younger than Jackson when honored as NFL MVP in 1957 and 1958.
With echoes of Colin Kapernick’s protest still in the air, it is amazing to see athletes of color thriving amidst the odds.
