Washington quarterback Doug Williams made history 35 years ago

Remember the question Doug Williams was asked ahead of Super Bowl XXII?

Remember during Super Bowl week when Washington QB Doug Williams was asked by a reporter, “How long have you been a black quarterback?”

It was Jan. 1988, and Washington had defeated the higher-seeded Chicago Bears in freezing Soldier Field, then came home to RFK, beating the Vikings to advance to Super Bowl XXII.

That week, Doug Williams was hit with a plethora of questions regarding his being the first black quarterback in a Super Bowl.

But the one question we continue to hear about to this day was, “How long have you been a black quarterback?” Williams himself, to this day, has commented on it many times.

Yet, strangely, this actually never happened.

That’s right, Doug Williams was not actually asked by that reporter, “How long have you been a black quarterback.”

Andy Pollin was working at SB XXII and he too confirmed again this week, as a guest on the Kevin Sheehan podcast that it indeed did not occur the way most often expressed for three decades.

Also the first source I ever found on this story told it this way.

Butch John, a reporter for the Jackson Clarion-Ledger was heard by Bob Kravitz, a reporter for the Rocky Mountain News to have asked Willliams, “Doug, obviously you’ve been a black quarterback your whole life. When did race begin to matter to people?”

Williams, in the front of the room, apparently misunderstood the question because he replied with his own question to the room, “How long have I been a black quarterback?” Before the week was completed, it had been reported all over the country as a fact but was not a fact.

Williams got it wrong that day regarding what he was asked, but Washington fans can enjoy recalling that he certainly had a great Super Bowl XXII and was voted the MVP in Washington’s 42-10 romp over the Denver Broncos.

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Many Super Bowl records are still held by Washington

Several Washington players still hold Super Bowl records.

Former Washington running back John Riggins still holds a Super Bowl record as we approach Super Bowl LVII (57), the 40th anniversary of Washington’s first Super Bowl victory.

Actually, I found that though Washington last appeared in a Super Bowl 31 years ago (SB XXVI win over Buffalo), there are still several Super Bowl records held by the Burgundy and Gold.

Ricky Sanders is one of seven players to score two touchdowns in one quarter of a Super Bowl game. Sanders caught two passes from Doug Williams as Washington scored 35 points in the quarter, defeating Denver 42-10.

Sanders was also the only player to score two SB touchdowns both over 50 yards in a game, until Jacoby Jones of the Baltimore Ravens tied him.

Doug Williams was the first quarterback to throw four touchdown passes in one half of a Super Bowl (SB XXII). Steve Young (SB XXIX) later tied Williams.

Doug Williams still possesses the record of four touchdown passes in a single quarter of a Super Bowl (SB XXII, 2nd quarter).

Doug Williams passed for the most yards in a Super Bowl quarter (second), passing for 228 yards in SB XXII.

John Riggins, 40 years later, still holds the record for most carries in a Super Bowl when he rushed 38 times for 166 yards in SB XVII and was MVP.

Timmy Smith rushed for the most yards in a Super Bowl when he ran for 204 yards in SB XXII against Denver.

John Riggins also holds the record for most combined attempts with 39 (38 rushes, 1 reception) in a Super Bowl game.

The punishing Washington defense caused Jim Kelly to fumble three times in the Redskins SB XXVI win over the Bills.

Washington cornerback Mike Bass is one of six players to have returned a fumble for a touchdown in a Super Bowl. His touchdown return occurred in SB VII, a 14-7 loss to Miami.

The Washington defense was so dominant in SB XVII that Mike Nelms holds a record of six returned punts against Miami.

Washington set two more records in SB XXII when they scored the most points in a half (35) and also the most points in a quarter (35), all in the second quarter.

Washington still holds the record for the largest halftime scoring margin of 25 points when they led Denver 35-10 at the half of SB XXII.

*Commanders Wire will conclude Washington Super Bowl records with part two tomorrow.

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