OD: We are honored to be able to spend some time with you during this important month of reflection and accomplishment for African-American people. You were a trailblazer and a national first – did you envision yourself ultimately playing in the NFL without having anyone at that position ahead of you to pattern yourself after or emulate?
MB: First of all, I should have never been the first black quarterback. There were others ahead of me that were playing in college and had the athletic ability and the skills to play professionally at the QB position, but were just denied the opportunity because of the color of their skin. Luckily for me I grew up playing quarterback since I was a little kid in a very diverse environment and I was always provided the chance to play and confident in my own abilities. At a young age nobody told me that I couldn’t play quarterback, so I was always comfortable competing at the position.
OD: Can you share with our readers your experience and what the transition was like going from being a star youth player in your neighborhood to becoming the QB and leader of your high school team?
MB: When I went to high school I always shared the Quarterback position responsibilities with a guy named Joe Varinas. We split time all the way from my Freshman to Senior year of high school. In my senior year, the head coach decided to make me a running back and allow Joe to play quarterback. Many people in our community thought that the decision was racially motivated, but we were fine with it. In fact, I went on to become an All-City running back and was selected to play in the Shrine Bowl All-Star game. The Quarterback that was supposed to start in that Shrine Bowl game got hurt and I ended up starting and winning the game against a guy that went on to star at Nebraska.
OD: Did that big game catapult your recruiting as a college quarterback?
MB: I was not recruited by most schools as a quarterback, despite the successes that I had in high school. The head coach at The University of Omaha promised me an opportunity to play the position and he was true to his word. Had I not have trusted that coach and made that decision, I believe my history would have been very different.
OD: Can you share what college football was like for you?
MB: My coach Al Corneglia told me two things before I arrived on campus: you're going to get your degree and you will play the quarterback position for us. My freshman year I actually started at cornerback because we had an All American QB at the time and I was his backup. I was immature then - I thought after a great spring game I had that I was better than he was and I was not. I was young and brash and really had no idea what I was doing. Luckily the coaches were patient with me and I went on to have a stellar collegiate career.
OD: After a fantastic college career and then rookie year with the Denver Broncos, can you share what happened and how you ended up being traded and playing another position?
MB: My rookie year in Denver I set the team record for touchdown passes, yards per reception and 4 others at the QB position that still stand today. I assumed with that kind of year that I would have at least been given an opportunity to compete for the job the following year and I was not allowed the chance to do that. I was granted my release once it was made clear that I would not be apart of their future plans. It makes me sad to know that now some 46 years later, Denver is one of the only teams remaining that has not had an African-American quarterback on it’s roster.
OD: After Denver you went on to have a fantastic career playing wide receiver and winning 2 Superbowls with the Miami Dolphins and leading the team in touchdowns. At any point did you want or plan to go back to the quarterback position?
MB: Not really. One season Bob Griese was injured and I served as the team’s emergency 3rd team QB. Because I was a starter at receiver, there were never really plans for me to go elsewhere on the field. When I watch the game today, I take great pride in seeing players like Russell Wilson knowing that I had a lot to do with their having an opportunity to play today.
OD: At Offense Defense we pride ourselves on developing and teaching young athletes the game of football and start working with players at a very young age. Can you share a fond memory that you might have playing youth football back in your day?
MB: Sure. I was a very good young football player but many people don’t know one of my first youth games was against Gale Sayers and he was the best athlete on the field, even as a young kid. Most of the games he used to just run around and past everybody but for some reason he decided on one play to just run over me. I remember crying and crying, not because I was hurt but mostly because there was nothing I could do to stop him.
OD: Well on behalf of Offense Defense Sports, and all the young people that aspire to be the best at anything they set their minds to, we sincerely thank you and look forward to seeing you at one of our camps this year.
