Vince Evans facts for kids

Vincent Tobias Evans (born June 14, 1955) is a former American football player. He was a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL). He also played in the United States Football League (USFL).

Evans played college football for the USC Trojans. He was named the most valuable player (MVP) of the 1977 Rose Bowl. This was after his team won 14–6 against Michigan. The Chicago Bears picked him in the sixth round of the 1977 NFL draft.

His professional career lasted almost 20 years. He played for the Chicago Bears and the Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders. He also played for the Chicago Blitz and Denver Gold in the USFL.

College Football Journey

Vince Evans played high school football in Greensboro, North Carolina. He went to Ben L. Smith High School. Six players from his school later played professional football.

Evans always wanted to play for the University of Southern California (USC). He saw them play in 1967 and was amazed. He turned down a scholarship from another university. Instead, he moved to Los Angeles to play at Los Angeles City College.

Joining the USC Trojans

Evans showed off his skills at a special event. USC was impressed by his strong arm. He joined USC as a backup quarterback in 1974. The team was coached by John McKay.

In his first season, Evans learned from Pat Haden. USC had a great year, finishing 10–1. They were ranked #1 in the Coaches Poll.

Becoming a Starter

After Haden left for the NFL, Evans became the starting quarterback. This was in 1975. Even with talented running backs, the team's record slipped to 8–4.

In Evans' final year, John Robinson became the new coach. Evans had his best college season. He completed 95 passes and threw for ten touchdowns. USC improved their record to 11–1. Their only loss was the first game of the season.

Rose Bowl Victory

USC won eleven games in a row that year. They beat the Iowa Hawkeyes 56–0. They also defeated their rival Notre Dame 17–13.

Evans led USC to a 14–6 win over Michigan in the 1977 Rose Bowl. He scored a rushing touchdown before halftime. This gave USC a 7-6 lead. Evans was named the Player of the Game.

In 2022, Vince Evans was honored. He was inducted into the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame.

Playing Professional Football

Starting with the Chicago Bears

In 1977, the Chicago Bears picked Evans in the NFL draft. He was the 140th player chosen. He joined the team as a backup quarterback.

In his first year, Evans did not throw any passes. He was used to return kicks instead. The Bears made the playoffs that year.

Evans threw his first NFL pass in 1978. He came into a game when the Bears were losing badly. He did not play much that season.

In 1979, Evans got more chances. He was promoted to backup quarterback. In one game, he threw his first touchdown pass. Evans became the first African American to start as a quarterback for the Bears. The team lost all three games he started that year.

Key Moments with the Bears

In 1980, Evans became a starter in Week 4. He earned his first win as a starter against the Detroit Lions. He threw a touchdown pass and also ran for a score.

He had an amazing game against the Green Bay Packers. He completed 18 of 22 passes for 316 yards. He also threw three touchdowns. This gave him a perfect 158.3 passer rating. He is the only Bears quarterback to achieve this.

In 1981, Evans started all sixteen games. The team struggled, even with star player Walter Payton. After that season, the coach was fired.

In 1982, the Bears drafted Jim McMahon. Evans became a backup again. He decided to leave for the USFL in 1984. He later said he regretted this choice.

Moving to the USFL

Evans wanted to be a starting quarterback. He turned down an offer to stay with the Bears. He signed with the Chicago Blitz in the USFL. This made him one of the highest-paid quarterbacks in that league.

Evans played one season for the Blitz. He threw more interceptions than touchdowns. The Blitz finished with a 5–13 record.

The next season, the Blitz team folded. Evans then joined the Denver Gold. He shared playing time with another quarterback. The Gold finished with an 11–7 record. The USFL later decided to play in the fall, which did not work out. Evans did not play football in 1986.

Joining the Raiders

In 1987, the Los Angeles Raiders needed a quarterback. Evans signed with them. A player strike helped him get back into the league. His start in 1987 made him the first black quarterback to start for the Raiders.

For several years, Evans remained a backup for the Raiders. He also helped coach the younger players. He played behind different starting quarterbacks.

In 1993, the Raiders got Jeff Hostetler as their new starter. Evans continued as a backup. In 1994, at age 38, he returned for another season. He completed two passes, including a touchdown.

Final Seasons with the Raiders

In 1995, the Raiders moved back to Oakland. Evans moved with the team. He was 40 years old that year.

Evans made three starts for the Raiders in 1995. He led them to a 30–17 win over the Indianapolis Colts. In another game, he threw three interceptions. This was his last start. He made a brief appearance in one more game. This was his final year as a player.

Life After Football

After his football career, Vince Evans built a successful career. He worked in real estate in Southern California.