Who was the First Black Running Back in the NFL?

Answer 1

Prior to the creation of the NFL, the first African American in pro football was Charles W. Follis who played fullback for the Shelby Athletic Club from 1902-1906. After the invention of the NFL, the first African American was Wally Triplett, a halfback from Penn State, who played for the Detroit Lions from 1949-1950 and the Chicago Cardinals from 1952-1953. However, Mr. Triplett was not the first African American drafted by an NFL club. That honor goes to George Taliaferro who was a halfback drafted by the Chicago Bears but chose instead to sign with the Los Angeles Dons of the AAFC. The first African Americans in the NFL were Fritz Pollard of the Akron Pros and Bobby Marshall of the Rock Island Independants in the 1920 season, the first season of the League. First African-American drafted by an NFL club: George Taliaferro, halfback (Indiana). Picked by the Chicago Bears in the thirteenth round of the 1949 draft but elected to sign with the Los Angeles Dons of the AAFC. Played with the Dons 1949; New York Yanks 1950-51; Dallas 1952; Baltimore 1953-54; Philadelphia 1955 First African-American draftee to play in the NFL: Wally Triplett, halfback (Penn State). Picked by the Detroit Lions in the nineteenth round of the 1949 draft. Played with Detroit 1949-1950; Chicago Cardinals 1952-53 According to the National Football League's Chronolology of Pro Football, the first African-American player in the modern era was halfback Kenny Washington of the Los Angeles Rams, who began play in 1946, which was three years before Triplett's debut.

Answer 2

The first African born player to play in the NFL was Wilkie Moody of the 1920 Columbus Panhandles who was born in Irabo, Congo.

Through the 2009 season, there have been 10 African countries where NFL players have been born:

1) Cameroon -

* Adrian Awasom - 2005-2007 with the New York Giants.
* Roman Oben - 1995-2007 with the New York Giants, Cleveland Browns, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and San Diego Chargers.
* Mathias Nkwenti - 2001 and 2003 with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

2) Congo -

* Wilkie Moody - 1920-1921 and 1924-1925 with the Columbus Panhandles and Dayton Triangles.

3) Ghana -

* Ebenezer Ekuban - 1999-2006 and 2008 with the Dallas Cowboys, Cleveland Browns, and Denver Broncos.
* Phil Yeboah-Kodie - 1996 with the Indianapolis Colts.

4) Ivory Coast -

* Amos Zereoue - 1999-2005 with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Oakland Raiders, and New England Patriots.

5) Liberia -

* Tamba Hali - 2006-2009 with the Kansas City Chiefs.
* Bhawoh Jue - 2001-2007 with the Green Bay Packers, San Diego Chargers, St. Louis Rams, and Arizona Cardinals.
* Thomas Tapeh - 2004 and 2006-2008 with the Philadelphia Eagles and Minnesota Vikings.
* Mansfield Wrotto - 2008 with the Seattle Seahawks.
* Ashton Youboty - 2006-2009 with the Buffalo Bills.

6) Nigeria -

* Victor Adeyanju - 2006-2009 with the St. Louis Rams.
* Obed Ariri - 1984 for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and 1987 for the Washington Redskins.
* Patrick Chukwurah - 2001-2002 and 2004-2007 with the Minnesota Vikings, Denver Broncos, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
* Adimchinobe Echemandu - 2004-2007 with the Cleveland Browns, Minnesota Vikings, Oakland Raiders, and Houston Texans.
* Patrick Egu - 1989 with the New England Patriots.
* Isaiah Ekejiuba - 2005-2009 with the Oakland Raiders.
* Mohammed Elewonibi - 1992-1993 and 1995 with the Washington Redskins and Philadelphia Eagles.
* Samkon Gado - 2005-2009 with the Green Bay Packers, Houston Texans, Miami Dolphins, and St. Louis Rams.
* Israel Ifeanyi - 1996 with the San Francisco 49ers.
* Donald Igwebuike - 1985-1990 with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Minnesota Vikings.
* Tony Okanlawon - 2003 with the San Diego Chargers.
* Amobi Okoye - 2007-2009 with the Houston Texans.
* Christian Okoye - 1987-1992 with the Kansas City Chiefs.
* Willie Oshodin - 1993-1995 with the Denver Broncos.
* Iheanyi Uwaezuoke - 1996-2000 with the San Francisco 49ers, Miami Dolphins, Detroit Lions, and Carolina Panthers.

7) Sierra Leone -

* B.J. Tucker - 2005-2006 with the San Francisco 49ers.
* Madieu Williams - 2004-2009 with the Cincinnati Bengals and Minnesota Vikings.

8) South Africa -

* Gary Anderson - 1982-2004 with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers, Minnesota Vikings, and Tennessee Titans.
* Jerome Pathon - 1998-2005 with the Indianapolis Colts, New Orleans Saints, and Atlanta Falcons.

9) Uganda -

* Mathias Kiwanuka - 2006-2009 with the New York Giants.
* Kato Serwanga - 1999-2003 with the New England Patriots, Washington Redskins, and New York Giants.
* Wasswa Serwanga - 1999-2001 with the San Francisco 49ers and Minnesota Vikings.

10) Zaire -

* Tim Biakabutuka - 1996-2001 with the Carolina Panthers.
* Muadianvita Kazadi - 1997 with the St. Louis Rams.

Answer 3

Ernie Davis.