William Henry Lewis [Football]
Collegiate Football, 1892, 1893
Berkeley, Virginia
Playing center for Amherst College and later Harvard Law School, Virginia born William Henry Lewis became the first African American to be named as an All-American in football.

Charles W. Follis [Football]
Shelby Athletic Association, Football, 1904
Shelby, Ohio
The first African American signed to a professional football contract, Charles Follis, "The Black Cyclone from Wooster," played for Shelby for two years until his career was ended by injury. One of his teammates was Branch Rickey who may have had a man of Follis' temperament and ability in mind when he signed Jackie Robinson. After football, Charles Follis switched to baseball, becoming a catcher for the Negro League's Star-Light Champs (Cleveland) and Cuban Giants (New York).

Frederick Douglass "Fritz" Pollard [Football]
The Rose Bowl, 1916
Pasadena, California
In 1916, Fritz Pollard became the first African American to play in the Rose Bowl and the first to be named All-American. He went on to a seven-year career in the NFL with Akron Pros as player. In 1923, he made another breakthrough when named head coach of the Akron Pros. He would be the only African-American head coach in NFL history until 1989, three years after his death.

National Football League [Football]
Professional Football League, 1920
Canton, Ohio
Originally known as the American Professional Football Association, the NFL did not adopt Jim Crow measures. Instead, it signed African-American players including Robert Marshall of the Rock Island Independents (1919-1921) and famed singer/activist Paul Robeson. In 1933, the NFL adopted a policy of segregation that lasted until 1946.

New York Brown Bombers [Football]
Professional Football , 1935
New York City, New York
Fritz Pollard formed this African-American football team (named for African-American heavyweight boxer Joe Louis) after the NFL adopted a policy of segregation.

Bill Willis and Marion Motley [Football]
All-America Football Conference, August 6, 1946
Cleveland, Ohio
The Cleveland Browns integrated the All-America Football Conference in 1947 signing Bill Willis on August 6 and Marion Motley three days later.

Kenny Washington [Football]
National Football League, March 21, 1946
Los Angeles, California
The Los Angeles Rams became the first integrated team in the NFL when they signed Kenny Washington. On May 7, 1947, they signed a second African-American player, Woody Strode.

Ernie Davis [Football]
Heisman Memorial Trophy, Downtown Athletic Club , 1961
New York City, New York
Syracuse halfback Ernie Davis was the first African-American recipient of collegiate football's highest honor. He died of leukemia only two years later.

Burl Toler [Football]
National Football League, September 19 1965
San Francisco, California
Burl Toler was named by NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle to be the first African-American football field judge in the NFL. The AFL's first African-American official was Aaron Wade.

Emlen Tunnel [Football]
Pro Football Hall of Fame, 1967
Canton, Ohio
Defensive back Emlen Tunnel, first signed as a pro to play for the New York Giants in 1948, became the first African American inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1967.

James Harris [Football]
National Football League, 1974
Los Angeles, California
James Harris became the first African-American quarterback to be a starter in the NFL, throwing for the Los Angeles Rams.

Doug Williams [Football]
National Football League, January 31 1988
San Diego, California
Doug Williams became the first African-American quarterback to lead his team, the Washington Redskins, to the Super Bowl championship. The game's MVP, Williams defeated the Denver Broncos 42-10.

Art Shell [Football]
National Football League, 1989
Los Angeles, California
In 1989, Art Shell became the first African-American coach in the NFL, taking charge of the Los Angeles Raiders.