Marlin Briscoe facts for kids
Briscoe in 2016
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| No. 15, 27, 86, 88 | |||||||||||||||
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| Position: | Quarterback Wide receiver |
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| Personal information | |||||||||||||||
| Born: | September 10, 1945 Oakland, California |
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| Died: | June 27, 2022 (aged 76) Norwalk, California |
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| Height: | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | ||||||||||||||
| Weight: | 178 lb (81 kg) | ||||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||||
| High school: | Omaha South (Omaha, Nebraska) | ||||||||||||||
| College: | Omaha | ||||||||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1968 / Round: 14 / Pick: 357 | ||||||||||||||
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College Football Hall of Fame
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Marlin Oliver Briscoe (born September 10, 1945 – died June 27, 2022) was an American professional football player. He was known as "the Magician" because of his amazing skills. Briscoe played as a quarterback and wide receiver in the American Football League (AFL) and National Football League (NFL).
In October 1968, after being chosen by the AFL's Denver Broncos, he made history. He became the first black starting quarterback in professional football. That season, he set a new record for Denver rookies with 14 touchdown passes. He played professionally for nine years.
Contents
Early Life and School Years
Marlin Briscoe was born in Oakland, California, on September 10, 1945. When he was five years old, his parents divorced. He moved to Omaha, Nebraska, with his mother.
He went to Omaha South High School. There, he was a star in many different sports. He played as a running back for the football team. His team even won the state championship!
College Football Achievements
After high school, Briscoe played college football at Omaha University. He played there from 1963 to 1967. The year after he graduated, his college changed its name. It became the University of Nebraska at Omaha.
Playing as a quarterback, Briscoe led his team to a great record of 27 wins and 11 losses. They also won three conference titles. When he left college, he held 22 school records. These included records for passing yards and touchdown passes. In 2016, Briscoe was honored for his college career. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
Professional Football Career
The 1968 draft was when the AFL's Denver Broncos picked Briscoe. He was 22 years old at the time. The Broncos originally wanted him to play cornerback. But Briscoe had asked for a chance to play quarterback.
Making History as a Quarterback
On September 29, 1968, the Broncos' starting quarterback got hurt. The backup quarterback was not playing well. So, head coach Lou Saban called Briscoe into the game. This was in the fourth quarter against the Boston Patriots.
Briscoe's very first play was a 22-yard pass completion. On his second try, he led an 80-yard drive that ended in a touchdown. He threw a 21-yard pass and ran for 38 more yards himself. He carried the ball the last 12 yards for the score.
A week later, on October 6, Briscoe made history. He became the first African-American starting quarterback in the AFL. That year, he threw 14 touchdown passes in just five starts. This included four touchdowns in one game against Buffalo on November 24. Both of these are still Broncos rookie records. He also threw for 335 yards in that game. This was a rookie record until John Elway broke it in 1983.
Switching to Wide Receiver
Before the 1969 season, Briscoe still wanted to play quarterback. However, he learned that his coach planned to use another player as the starter. So, Briscoe asked to be released from the team.
He then joined the AFL's Buffalo Bills. The Bills already had several good quarterbacks. So, Briscoe was changed into a wide receiver. He quickly became a top player in this new position. He led Buffalo in touchdown catches for three seasons. He also led the team in receptions twice. In 1970, he was one of the top two players in receptions and receiving yards. He became an All-Pro player that year.
Winning Super Bowls
After the AFL and NFL joined together, Briscoe continued to play in the National Football League. He played from 1970 to 1976. In 1971, the Bills traded him to the Miami Dolphins. This trade helped the Dolphins get a future Hall of Fame player.
Briscoe went on to win two Super Bowl championships with the Dolphins. He helped the undefeated 1972 team with four touchdown receptions. He was also the leading receiver for the Dolphins in 1973. He caught more passes than future Pro Football Hall of Famer, Paul Warfield.
Briscoe later played for the San Diego Chargers and Detroit Lions. He finished his career in 1976 with the New England Patriots.
Life After Football
After retiring from professional sports, Briscoe moved to Los Angeles. He became a successful financial broker. He worked with municipal bonds. Later, in the 21st century, he worked as a director for the Boys and Girls Club in Long Beach, California. He also started a football camp for children.
A movie about Briscoe's life, called The Magician, has been in the works for several years. Canadian actor Lyriq Bent has been asked to play Briscoe in the film. In 2016, the University of Nebraska Omaha, Briscoe's old college, honored him with a statue.
Family and Passing
Marlin Briscoe had two children, Angela and Rebecca. His three marriages ended in divorce.
Briscoe passed away on June 27, 2022, in a hospital in Norwalk, California. He was 76 years old. Before his death, he had developed pneumonia. He had also been in the hospital for problems with circulation in his legs.
See also
- List of American Football League players
- Racial issues faced by black quarterbacks
