The San Francisco 49ers have been a part of the NFL for 64 years. In those six decades, the franchise has never started a black quarterback. That changed on Sunday when former Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith started for the 49ers as the team faced off against the Denver Broncos.
At the start of the season, Troy Smith was the third-string quarterback behind Alex Smith, who is injured, and David Carr. But on Sunday, he proved to be better than Smith and Carr by turning in the team’s best quarterback performance of the year. Troy Smith threw for 196 yards and scored two touchdowns while finishing with an elite passer rating of 115.2. Alex Smith only achieved a rating that high in two of 50 starts. Troy Smith led the 49ers to a 24-16 victory and the team’s second win of the season.
Although the 49ers are led by a black coach, Mike Singletary, it’s unfortunate that it took the team so long to start a black quarterback. The franchise experienced success with Joe Montana and Steve Young at quarterback during the ’80s and the ’90s, but the team has struggled to find a consistent quarterback since Young retired last decade.
Alex Smith could regain the starting quarterback position when he returns from injury, but coach Singletary could salvage his team’s disastrous season by naming Troy Smith the starting quarterback for the remainder of the season. –a.r.
