Marlin Briscoe, 1st Black starting QB in AFL, dies at 76

By CLIFF BRUNT
AP Sports Writer

Marlin Briscoe, the first Black starting quarterback in the American Football League, has died at the age of 76. Briscoe’s daughter, Angela Marriott, told The Associated Press that he died of pneumonia at a hospital in Norwalk, California on Monday. Briscoe was a star quarterback at Omaha University before the Denver Broncos drafted him as a cornerback in the 14th round in 1968. He told the team he wanted a tryout at quarterback. Denver agreed to an audition, and the 5-foot-10 dynamo nicknamed “The Magician” ended up starting five games that year.