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Cleveland Browns building diverse organization

By Elliot Kennel

CLEVELAND, OH - SEPTEMBER 20: Tyrod Taylor #5 of the Cleveland Browns carries the ball in front of Trumaine Johnson #22 of the New York Jets during the second quarter at FirstEnergy Stadium on September 20, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - SEPTEMBER 20: Tyrod Taylor #5 of the Cleveland Browns carries the ball in front of Trumaine Johnson #22 of the New York Jets during the second quarter at FirstEnergy Stadium on September 20, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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CLEVELAND, OH – NOVEMBER 3: Quarterback Jason Campbell #17 of the Cleveland Browns passes during the first half against the Baltimore Ravens at FirstEnergy Stadium on November 3, 2013 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH – NOVEMBER 3: Quarterback Jason Campbell #17 of the Cleveland Browns passes during the first half against the Baltimore Ravens at FirstEnergy Stadium on November 3, 2013 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /

Cleveland Browns African American Starting Quarterbacks

Although formal records do not exist, the first African American quarterback in the modern NFL was Marlon Briscoe (Broncos,1968), followed by James Harris (Bills,1969), Joe Gilliam (Steelers,1973), J.J. Jones (Jets, 1975)  and Parnell Dickinson (Buccaneers, 1976).

Thus  Dr. David Mays of the Browns was probably the sixth African American quarterback to start a game, when he went 1-4 for the Browns when Brian Sipe was injured in 1977. He is referred to as “Doctor” because he really was a dentist in the off-season. Between Dr. Mays and Dr. Frank Ryan, the Browns must have some kind of record for legitimate doctors who played quarterback.

Since that time, the Cleveland Browns must have the world’s record for the most African American starting quarterbacks, partly because, well, the Browns go through a lot of starting quarterbacks, and some of them happen to be African American.

Honorable mention goes to wildcat formation quarterbacks Josh Cribbs and MarQueis Gray who both performed well but were not starters; and also Terrelle Pryor and Josh Johnson who filled in during emergencies. In order, after Dr. Mays, Browns African American quarterbacks to start at least one game for the Browns were Spergon Wynn (2000, 0-1), Seneca Wallace (2010, 1-6), Thad Lewis (2012, 0-1), Jason Campbell (2013, 1-7), Robert Griffin III (2016, 1-4), Deshone Kizer (2017, 0-15) and Tyrod Taylor (2018 1-1-1).

If there is one player who could be nominated as underrated, it would be Jason Campbell who played for atrocious Washington teams as well as the Browns. But he never had more INTs than TDs and he did go 11-7 for the Oakland Raiders, so he must have more ability than people thought.  It was too easy to blame Campbell for the Browns ineffective play. He deserved better opportunities, but that’s football.

In addition to diversity at the quarterback position, the NFL has been concerned about its lack of diversity in the coaching staff, particularly at head coach, as well as in the front office. The Cleveland Browns have been one of the few teams to respond to the issue.

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