NFL betting history shows that the first black NFL quarterback was Willie Thrower. He played one game for the Chicago Bears in 1953. Thrower relieved George Blanda and completed 3 of 8 passes for 27 yards and an interception. It was his one and only game according to NFL betting history.
NFL betting history shows that Thrower played in that game against the San Francisco 49ers at Soldier Field in Chicago. In college he led Michigan State to a national championship in 1952. Although Thrower became the first black NFL quarterback in history, it took another 15 years until another black quarterback took a snap. That happened in 1968 when Marlin Briscoe started at quarterback for the Denver Broncos. At that time the Broncos were part of the AFL.