Rocket Men: The Black Quarterbacks Who Revolutionized Pro Football -- John Eisenberg, Hardcover

An acclaimed sportswriter offers an inside look at the Black quarterbacks whose skill and grit transformed the NFL

In Rocket Men, John Eisenberg offers the definitive history of Black quarterbacks in the NFL--men who shaped not only the history of football but the cause of civil rights in America. From early pioneers like Fritz Pollard to groundbreaking modern standouts like Marlin Briscoe and James "Shack" Harris, Black quarterbacks had to be twice as good as their white counterparts to get playing time--and even then, many never got that chance. That didn't begin to change in earnest until the 1990s and the 2000s, when racist notions about what Black quarterbacks supposedly couldn't do began to fade, paving the way for today's stars like Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson.

Drawing on deep historical research and exclusive interviews with Black quarterbacks and players, coaches, and talent evaluators who have worked alongside them, Rocket Men is a celebration of the athletes and activists who transformed the game.

Author: John Eisenberg
Publisher: Basic Books
Published: 09/05/2023
Pages: 416
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.43lbs
Size: 9.54h x 6.00w x 1.28d
ISBN: 9781541600409

Review Citation(s):
Publishers Weekly 07/10/2023
Kirkus Reviews 07/15/2023
Booklist 07/01/2023 pg. 16
Library Journal 08/01/2023 pg. 94

About the Author

John Eisenberg is an acclaimed sportswriter and the author of ten books, including The Streak and The League. He won nearly two dozen writing awards at the Baltimore Sun, where he wrote five thousand columns over three decades, and he also worked at the Dallas Times Herald and has taught sports journalism at Towson University. He lives in Baltimore, Maryland.