In 1974, my dad took me to a Rams game at the Coliseum. They played the 49ers and started a new QB that day - James Harris. He fired 3 TD passes and ran for a TD. It was a blowout 37-14. I still have the ticket stub and an unused ticket my uncle bought off the man next to us. In 1974, Harris led the NFC in passer rating.
The first time I ever heard of James Harris was when I played high school football in Western Canada in 1979. The was a poster of him hanging (among other NFL players) in our gym. One of my teammates informed me he was the first black QB in the NFL. I wondered out loud why it took so long as here in the CFL we had Warren Moon who was beginning to show just how talented he was. This documentary was outstanding and one that I very much enjoyed.
I'm from San Diego so I knew about James Harris But it was not until I went to Shreveport Louisiana to induct my coach Audrey Mickey Patterson Tyler into the Hall of Champions in Natchitoches for being the first Black woman in US history who ran and took 3rd in the 1948 London Olympics games.... There were many Great athletes that I met from Louisiana at that event But I really felt Blessed and Honored to Meet him and Coach Eddie Robertson and listen to them Tell stories and laugh about old times, Such a warm kind hearted and humorous person Plus the fact that his birthday is the same day as mine July 20th
Harris had the right roommate in Briscoe, who had been the first Black QB to be named a regular starter when he played the previous season as a rookie QB in Denver.
James Harris had the talent to be a star QB in the NFL and one of the all time greats. But some NFL institutional racist ignorance ruined his career. He was definitely better than half the QBs that were starting.
He came within a yard making to the Super Bowl, but his TE jump off side late in NFC championship game. Rams had to pass the football and was it was tipped and ended up int in the end zone. That was the beginning of the end.
I remember that. I would compare him to Cam with the size, strength and arm talent. I watched the NFC Championship games and wanted him to win so badly.... my young psyche hurt when he didn't.
James, Warren, Randall, Doug ,Steve, Donovan, and Cam when he wants to play. I forgot Dante and many more. Willie Lanier (Morgan State) was the first black middle linebacker in the NFL. MLB was viewed in the same context as quarterback. It's amazing that 13% percent of the population in America can have such dynamic impact on this society. We're rocking everything from neurosurgeons to venture capitalist. Imagine what will happen when we bankrupt the prison industrial complex. Biess James Harris.
I was a Ram fan back in those days and loved James Harris he was so fun to watch a great passer and a great guy. I never forgave the Rams for getting rid of him. Between that and earlier getting rid of Romen Gabriel I changed allegence to the Philadelphia Eagles it took awhile but it finally paid off...lol
I STILL have this dude's football card.. LA Rams 75 or 6.. Rams were my fav team as a boy.. James Harris.. Lawerence McCutcheon RB,. Jack Youngblood, DE, Fred Dryer DE, Merlin Olsen DT, Deacon Jones, Harold Jackson WR, etc. .. James Harris I know I'm forgetting so many great players from that 70s era.. my apologies Isaiah Thomas Middle Linebacker
4:13 love this old 70s Rams footage! As a kid, I had no idea he was 1st black starting QB in NFL..I had all the football cards, half of them or more were black.. It made no difference what color of skin someone had
2:59: Blue Train - John Coltrane The Buffalo Bills would have been one of the most successful teams in The '70's if they would have looked passed his skin color.
