Omahan Briscoe, First Black Starting QB in AFL, Dies at 76
Source: Alpha Media
Omaha native Marlin Briscoe, the first black starting quarterback in the AFL, died Monday.
His daughter, Angela Marriott, told The Associated Press that the 76-year old Briscoe died of pneumonia at a hospital in Norwalk, California. He had been hospitalized with circulation issues in his legs.
Briscoe was a star quarterback at Omaha University. The Denver Broncos drafted him in 1968 as a cornerback, but agreed to give him a tryout at quarterback. The 5-foot-10 dynamo nicknamed “The Magician” went on to become the runner-up for AFL rookie of the year. Later, Briscoe was a Pro Bowl receiver with the Buffalo Bills and won two Super Bowls with the Miami Dolphins.
He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2016.
