Doug Williams on Black Quarterbacks & CEO's


  • Mr. WILLIAMS: Ed, you know, I basically--you know, I look at the NFL and I look at playing the position of quarterback the same way I do society, in a way. And, you know, a lot of people don't believe that, as an African-American, you can lead in the corporate world, you can lead in politics. So I think it trickles down to the athletic field, you know, not always the quarterback, but as coaches at this level and coaches at the college level. I still think we have that mentality and we got to get over. We certainly haven't made it, but we have made progress.
  • GORDON: Hey, Doug, how much did you, if at all, feel underappreciated when you played? I mean, I tell people--I remember a play when you were with Tampa Bay in the rough days. You rolled out and literally on the run threw a ball in the air 70 yards. I mean, I remember seeing that. How much do you feel, or did you feel when you were playing, underappreciated?
  • Mr. WILLIAMS: Oh, I still believe that I'm a little unappreciated. You know, the only African-American to ever play and win and be named MVP in the Super Bowl--you know, nobody calls Doug Williams and say, `Come on down to the Super Bowl. We got some appearance that we want you to make,' you know? And you look at all these other commercials and everything, even leading up to the Super Bowl--one night it was on ESPN and any other sports station--you don't see a lot of Doug Williams. So therefore--I mean, but at the same time, I don't cry wolf. We talking facts. And if I'm lying, you know, I just hope somebody stop me.
  • While playing for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Williams once received a gift wrapped rotten watermelon [more]