“Hate this culture of hot takes for attention” – Ryan Clark bizarrely claiming Lamar Jackson is the first ‘authentic’ black quarterback doesn’t sit well with fans on social media
Social media pointed out that Jackson isn't the only 'black 'quarterback to achieve great feats in the NFL.
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Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson and ESPN analyst Ryan Clark (Image via IMAGO)
Lamar Jackson is unquestionably a top-five quarterback in the NFL. Possibly even the top 3. Even though the 27-year-old has yet to reach a Super Bowl, his performances have earned him two league MVPs, among which he bagged the first one unanimously in 2019.
Jackson is one of the few dual-threat quarterbacks who has succeeded. Not only can he complete 60-yard passes, but running past defenders is regular work.
Since joining the Baltimore Ravens, Jackson has won 59 games from 77, completing more than 1350 passes and running more than 870 times with the ball. As a result, he notched a combined 154 touchdowns.
However, instead of enjoying Jackson’s performances as a football athlete, Ryan Clark chose a different path. The retired NFL player turned ESPN analyst believes the Lousiville graduate is the most ‘authentic black quarterback’ the league has ever seen.
Football fans react to Ryan Clark using the racial card to praise Lamar Jackson
Usually, players are chosen based on their merit on the field rather than their skin color. But historically, there’s a tradition that players of color excel in certain positions on the field more than their white counterparts.
For example, there’s hardly any running back (besides Christian McCaffrey) in the NFL who’s Caucasian. Even the majority of the wide receivers are from African American backgrounds. Yet one specialist spot is always dominated by individuals of European descent, and that’s the quarterback.
More than 85% of QBs in the Hall of Fame are white. However, that trajectory is changing every year. More black quarterbacks are flourishing in the NFL, and one of them is Lamar Jackson. But that doesn’t mean there have never been successful black-shot callers in the past.
Doug Williams is the first name that would instantly pop into any football fan’s mind. Unlike Jackson, he won a Super Bowl while playing for the Washington Redskins (Washington Commaners) in 1987. Then it would be criminal not to mention the nine-time Pro Bowler, once NFL Offensive Player of the Year (1990), and NFL Man of the Year recipient (1989), Warren Moon.
One doesn’t have to roll back to the previous century to name a few more. Cam Newton and Michel Vick lit up the NFL before Jackson entered the frame. Perhaps that’s the reason Clark’s assessment of Jackson didn’t sit well with fans on social media.
Sharing a wide spectrum of reactions online, here’s what fans have to say:
Clark has always been infatuated with Jackson’s way of approaching football. He once claimed on ESPN’s Get Up that the three-time Pro Bowler never distanced himself from his roots.
Whether it was his playstyle on the field, his way of attending press conferences or being precise about his hair, these qualities made Jackson one of a kind. Even though there’s a three-time Super Bowl champion, Patrick Mahomes, in the league, Clark chose Lamar Jackson as the ‘authentic black quarterback.’
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Ishan Misra
(3023 Articles Published)