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PHOENIX (AP) — Philadelphia Eagles coach Nick Sirianni is thrilled younger aspiring soccer gamers everywhere in the world will get to look at two Black quarterbacks face one another for the primary time within the Tremendous Bowl.
He’s additionally happy they get to look at two actually, actually good quarterbacks.
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“I’m actually excited for each quarterbacks, what they’ll signify to a ton of youngsters,” Sirianni stated at Monday’s Tremendous Bowl media night time. “Not solely are they two African-American quarterbacks, however they’re the 2 greatest quarterbacks within the NFL this yr. First-team All-Professional, second-team All-Professional.
“They each play on the highest degree.”
There are lots of storylines for this Tremendous Bowl, however the duel between Philadelphia’s Jalen Hurts and Kansas Metropolis’s Patrick Mahomes is true on the prime of the checklist.
The importance of Sunday’s matchup in Glendale, Arizona, isn’t misplaced on Mahomes.
“I give it some thought quite a bit,” Mahomes stated. “The quarterbacks that got here earlier than me — Shack Harris, Doug Williams — that laid the inspiration for me to be on this place. It goes throughout all sports activities. If you concentrate on Jackie Robinson and the individuals who broke the colour barrier in baseball, I wouldn’t be standing right here at this time if it wasn’t for them.
“To be fortunate sufficient to be on this place — and play in opposition to one other nice man like Jalen — it will likely be a particular second. I’m glad we’re right here at this time, however how can we hold shifting ahead? How can we encourage children who’re youthful, who need to comply with their desires to be a quarterback?“
It’s not simply the quarterbacks who’re relishing the groundbreaking matchup. Chiefs operating again Jerick McKinnon stated gamers are effectively conscious of what they’re witnessing.
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“There’s historical past being made,” McKinnon stated. “That’s a stupendous factor. One thing I can look again and inform my children that, ‘I used to be part of that, I skilled that.’ So it’s a blessing. This complete expertise is a blessing.
“To have that on prime, simply provides to it.”
Along with being good, each quarterbacks are additionally powerful.
Hurts missed two video games late within the season with a shoulder damage that’s nonetheless bothering him. The Eagles haven’t needed to lean on him in two lopsided playoff wins. He has 275 yards passing and two TDs together with 73 yards dashing and two scores, pedestrian numbers by his requirements.
Mahomes hobbled round on a badly sprained ankle to assist the Chiefs beat the Cincinnati Bengals 23-20 and advance to their third Tremendous Bowl look in 4 years.
“It’s wonderful — particularly being Black Historical past Month as effectively,” Eagles cornerback Darius Slay stated. “I’m grateful for this second, to be part of this. That is loopy with two Black quarterbacks within the Tremendous Bowl, one of many greatest video games on the earth.“
Washington’s Doug Williams was the primary Black quarterback to start out and win a Tremendous Bowl following the 1987 season. That’s again when Black quarterbacks have been pretty uncommon throughout the NFL.
This season — 35 years later — started with 11 Black QBs beginning in Week 1 and now ends with a historic matchup.
Mahomes can change into the primary two-time winner if he leads the Chiefs to victory on Sunday. Hurts goals to change into the fourth Black QB to win the Tremendous Bowl, becoming a member of Williams, Mahomes and Russell Wilson.
Steve McNair, Colin Kaepernick, Cam Newton and Wilson additionally began in a Tremendous Bowl and misplaced.
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Now it’s Hurts vs. Mahomes.
After McKinnon heard that Sirianni stated the 2 quarterbacks have been the highest two within the league, he had a one-word response: “Information.”
“It’s going to be a showdown — all 4 quarters,” McKinnon stated. “It’s going to return right down to the final second. Jalen Hurts is phenomenal, I’ve been watching him since school. The issues he does and brings to the desk are phenomenal.”
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AP Professional Soccer Author Rob Maaddi contributed to this story.
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