Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson recently revisited his comments about the impact of his career on the opportunities for Black QBs. And it didn’t come after days of introduction but following criticism from former TE Shannon Sharpe. In an enlightening interview with Essence, Wilson provided clarity on his earlier remarks.

Wilson had said that the rise of quarterbacks like Mahomes, Jalen Hurts, Lamar Jackson, and C.J. Stroud was indicative of a new era in football, which he had brought about to a great extent. He took to social media to express his gratitude and provide context for his comments.

Russell Wilson defends what he said

He appealed to people to “start building each other up“, and not try to put each other down. “Full context is always important! Grateful for those before me. Those with me. And those after. God is Good!” Wilson wrote on X, reflecting his appreciation for the pioneers and his peers.

In the Instagram story that he had shared, he highlighted parts from an article where he had given credit to the great Black QBs that had come before him. Players like Doug Williams, Warren Moon, Randall Cunningham, and Michael Vick. He also said that he had not tried to position himself as the “first” as even though he was in the league there were other players like RG3, Colin Kaepernick, and Cam Newton.

However, the initial misunderstanding had led to Sharpe taking issue with Wilson acting like he was the only trailblazer for Black quarterbacks.

Ocho and Unc argue over whether Wilson was right

In the swirling debate about the influence of Black QBs in the NFL, Chad “Ocho” Johnson and Sharpe dissected Russell Wilson’s recent remarks about his impact on the sport. Johnson chose to shine a light on Wilson beyond his athletic prowess. “He’s inspiration for one as a father, as a family man,” Johnson pointed out, emphasizing the inspirational role Wilson plays off the field. “You know seeing some of the things that he does away from the game of football are very inspiring.”

On the flip side, Sharpe was forthright in his dismissal of Wilson’s assertion: “Bro, you got to stop this you ain’t open no doors ’cause somebody the door was open before you walked in the door,” he contended, crediting earlier legends like Doug Williams and James Harris with the true groundbreaking achievements that facilitated the rise of Black QBs in the NFL.

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While Wilson’s contributions are notable, the history of Black QBs in the NFL is a mosaic of many pioneers, each adding to the legacy that shapes the current and future generations.