On Tuesday morning, the Giants announced the signing of journeyman quarterback, Jameis Winston. A few hours later, the team announced they had also signed veteran QB Russell Wilson.
The two signings on the same day wasn’t much of a shock as the team needed a quarterback, and those were two of the best available.
But the team signing not one but two Black quarterbacks, especially on the same day, was a big shock if you knew about the team’s history with Black QBs, which isn’t a good one.
Almost eight years ago, on December 3rd, 2017, Geno Smith was given the start over Eli Manning, who had started 210 consecutive games in a tenure that dated back to 2010. That decision by then-Giants head coach Ben McAdoo was met with anger as he ended Manning’s streak with only five games remaining in the season.
But that decision actually ended two major streaks.
The first was Manning’s record for consecutive starts by a QB (he now sits in third behind Phillip Rivers, 240, and Brett Favre, 297).
The second was when Geno took the field, the Giants became the last of the 32 NFL teams in NFL history to start a Black QB.
Understand that that took place only 8 years ago.
But the team’s poor history with Black signal-callers didn’t end there.
On October 22nd, 2023, Tyrod Taylor started for the Giants at MetLife Stadium and led them to a 14-7 win over the Washington Commanders.
That win made Tyrod Taylor the first Black quarterback to ever win a game for the Giants.
So @loumoore12 just dropped a mind-blowing stat.
— First and Pen (@firstandpen) October 22, 2023
By leading NY to a victory today, Tyrod Taylor becomes the first Black QB to win a game for the Giants. The team was founded in 1925 and Tyrod is only the 2nd Black QB to start for the Giants in team history (Geno Smith).😳😱 pic.twitter.com/779OKmyXmP
The Giants began in the NFL in 1925, and Taylor’s history-making performance occurred just two years ago. Think about that.
Continue reading over at First and Pen.
