“Rocket Men” by John Eisenberg is a thorough account of the many talented quarterbacks throughout NFL history who were denied opportunities due to the color of their skin. Who were the black quarterbacks before Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson that paved away for their acceptance as leaders on the football field? “Rocket Men” gives their predecessors the proper due and illustrates their struggles with racism.
From 1934 to 1945, the NFL didn’t allow black athletes to compete in their league. Once the color barrier was lifted, the owner’s maintained a prejudice mindset that black quarterbacks were not smart enough to run complex offenses. They were perceived as not being tough minded and lacked dependability. Additionally, blacks weren’t utilized as centers or middle linebackers, since they had to bark out signals. Despite their obvious athletic abilities, black quarterbacks were often switched to other positions, such as wide receiver or defensive back.
The author traces the baby steps in the allowance of black athletes to start at quarterback in the league. As Eisenberg points out, there was no one Jackie Robinson that broke the color line in the NFL. Eisenberg documents the reluctance of NFL owners to sign black athletes, with only about two dozen players in the league by the mid 1950s. Several of the owners were blatantly racist and refused to sign black stars. The Bear’s George Halas lied to the media, claiming the lack of black players were due to the scarcity of black prospects. With no other options, many black quarterbacks migrated north, playing in the Canadian Football League.
You might realize that Warren Moon was the first black quarterback to enter the NFL hall of fame, and Doug Williams was the first black QB to win a Super Bowl. However, this book also spotlights the trailblazing black quarterbacks that opened the door for future greats such as Steve McNair, Cam Newton, and Russell Wilson. I found “Rocket Men” to be fascinating and educational. I would certainly recommend this book to any fans that appreciate sport histories.
By: John Eisenberg
Narrated by: Brad Sanders
Length: 14 hrs and 39 mins
Release date: 09-05-23
Publisher: Basic Books