Doug Williams & Joe Gibbs: Quarterbacking History

the 30 year anniversary of one of the most historic title games in NFL history Doug Williams led the Redskins past the Broncos to become the first black quarterback to the disturber ball that feat and the bold decisions that preceded it helped forge a bond between Williams and his head coach Joe Gibbs that is still strong today later last month the Dudley and miss paid a visit to Jim his and his eight grandchildren many ways Liam's as a member of the Gibbs family and has been this way for 40 years ever since the episode Williams first met the bond that hasn't joke in private and with the whole world watching Joey then uncle that done you you probably didn't know your hand you know if you're one for joke games I don't know why I'd be sitting here today our relationship is so personal and we experienced so much together it was my career wrapped into his cruiser don't do that pause great guy tell you things in the spring of 1978 Williams had just finished a stellar career at Grambling State where he finished fourth in the Heisman voting at the time there were no black starting quarterbacks in the NFL and no team appeared interested in drafting him so williams taught high school at Monroe Louisiana one day his classroom door opened and Gibbs Buccaneers offensive coordinator walked in talking about a tall black school and this white guy said in the back they probably wonder who is this guy and when I got to break him and I which without football and as the stew was all with you know we went we went to back down at that time that was big man for somebody everybody member we spent two days together I think he'd get a pretty good feel for somebody I became convinced this guy is really tough and that's the one thing that quarterbacks gotta be Gibbs returned to Tampa with a singular message draft Williams and that's what the Bucs did the 17th pick in the 1978 draft making him the second black quarterback ever to be chosen in the first round it was a big deal in Tampa when he first got drafted because that was breaking down a barrier you know they got a lot of attention when I first got the Tamplin coming in late as a rookie I was behind in training camp after practice coach skills put me in his car that took me home and I said the same table that is two boys and then his wife pet sat in and Pat cook that I ate every night so I was caught up on all not a playbook you know and that that don't happen the more time that we could spend together invite him over to dinner and then having a chance to talk football obviously that helps in the relationship Gibbs and Williams were together for just one season before parting ways ian's went on to become head coach of the Redskins in 1981 while Williams enjoyed success as a starter with the Bucs and in the USFL and when the USFL folded night six Williams got just one phone call from Gibbs who was looking for a quarterback to be his backup I kind of chuck it a little bit I say hey coach I could be in it up you or me - because I have a Dena grab it back Doug leaves through only one past that season he had a starters mentality and in fact heading into the 87 season he called for a trade don't say Douglas is it give me a window to be say out we've made it easy we traded you to the LA Raiders oh man I was the happiest man in the world because now I got a chance to start for the Raiders the paperwork he'll ever hadn't been finalized and the next morning Gibbs called Williams into his office and told him he changed his mind I don't work for the Raiders help that sent back we got a guy after each other a little bit I think I remember saying something like Douglas he said I got a feeling that somewhere during this season you don't come in here and we gonna win this thing Williams remained it back out for most of the 87 season they played well enough in place of the struggling Jay Schrader in week 16 kids once again going on a gut feeling names in starter for the playoffs Williams led the Redskins all the way to Super Bowl 22 against the favorite Broncos and John Elway area article was done we ever get John Elway because i was a black quarterback more than anything not because I was a quarterback but I don't think we looked at it that way I think we looked at as Doug was our guy we had great belief and done good afternoon check Murphy Stadium in Sammy they wrote the Super Bowl 22 stops right here the Redskins got off to a rocky start in San Diego falling behind 10 nothing just before the first quarter ended Williams hyperextend his knee he actually does way to back off and said I'm staying in this game the second quarter came around jump jump came pretty big he said Douglas you ready to go I say that coach he said let's get this sucker over the Washington Redskins offenses back on the football field and throw is number 17 and up William first and ten at the 20 yard line the play when it goes before me it was a running play and Doug got there he I was able to pass just waiting to look over their head me it was like I can just see it in his eyes this is going way I can make [Music] like that for some reason ever play we called yet I would seem to be the right play at the right time I could shut my eyes and go on the playbook and I think it would have nothing ever happens like that in football the second corner Gibbs and Williams don't get to see each other often these days kids is busy with the second career learning a NASCAR team that has won four Cup Series championships while Williams is a senior vice president for the Redskins but like most families separated by time and distance they're bonded yours even today forty some years later I don't think you really know what it meant to me to be sitting here with you today talking about what happened in I think dad Williams is one of the greatest sports stories [Music] The Hangover - for me I don't think it could be a better story I hope I'm not sharing too much but the first time you watch that story you cry did coach Gibbs dance said it was a big deal he was under selling it it was monumental one year before devil got drafted I was a senior at the University of Minnesota we played the University of Washington I'm quarterback in our team's worn bonus water back in their team I led the Big Ten in passing I didn't get drafted they told me they didn't switch the defensive back Warren Moon went on to become the most valuable player in the Rose Bowl he didn't get drafted they told him to go to Canada the skill set would be better off up there so for coach Gibbs to go out and be told hey let's get the best quarterback in the country we're drafting the first round and to come back and say the best quarterback in America is Doug Williams from Grambling College you can't imagine how big that was I mean you're looking at Doug Williams and what he meant to you but people will be looking at you and what you've meant to other coaches because you were the first african-american coach to hold up that Lombardi Trophy but ten years after Doug got drafted he's playing in the Super Bowl black America is rooting for him in the living room on that room cheering for him because I know it's gonna make a difference today my son Jordan is that a Super Bowl party he's wearing a Russell Wilson Jersey and we take him for granted but I have to remind my boys that there were plenty of Russell Wilson's and Deshawn Watson's and they didn't get a chance to play in the NFL but coach gives us courage and Doug Williams ability sayings and all that and we leave you with Coach holding up that trophy in Super Bowl 41 and what that will mean 15 20 years [Music]

Channel: peejaybydata

Views: 9,874

Rating: 4.9436622 out of 5

Keywords: Black History Month, Black Quarterback, Doug Williams, Joe Gibbs, Washington Redskins, Grambling University Football, Grambling, Grambling University

Id: 2kuMJhxbVGE

Length: 9min 44sec (584 seconds)

Published: Sun Feb 04 2018

Reddit Comments

[u/[deleted]]

Joe Gibbs: 3 Super Bowls with 3 different starting quarterbacks, none of which are hall of famers.

Doug Williams: first black quarterback to win a Super Bowl.

Mark Rypien: first Canadian born quarterback to win a Super bowl.