I had no idea that Kenny Washington had such an impact on the National Football League (NFL). Growing up, I heard stories about how talented he was but had no idea of his true impact. It was only when I began to study American Football that I began to discover the incredible story of Kenny Washington.
So when did Kenny Washington join the NFL? The answer is that he joined in 1946, the same year that the Los Angeles Rams signed him, shocking the world. Kenny was the first African American to re-enter the professional football league since 1933, Cheap Jerseys china when the last African American player to play in the nfl Jerseys was released. This was a major milestone – one that opened the door to other African American players to enter the pros.
At the time, the NFL had a strict policy of not allowing African American athletes into the league, even though the majority of college football was made up of African Americans. But the Rams management, who were looking for the most talented players, decided that Kenny Washington was one of them and signed him. This resulted in a storm of protest from the racist sports establishment, who pressured the Rams front office to reverse its decision. But Kenny was determined and became the first African American player to successfully break into the NFL.
For many African American athletes, Kenny’s legacy was a source of inspiration. He showed that talent would win out, even in the face of discriminatory pressures. As a player, Kenny excelled in the NFL, becoming a three-time first-team all-pro league selection and a key member of the Rams team. He proved that the NFL was willing to accept and tolerate African American players, and his signing signaled a major shift in the league’s attitudes towards race and inclusion.
While Kenny was playing in the league, two other African American athletes were signed by the Cleveland Browns, Wilmeth Sidat-Singh and Woody Strode. This was a major breakthrough in terms of racial integration, and slowly but surely the color barrier began to fall. So Kenny Washington’s signing didn’t just effect him – it had a wider reverberations which changed the face of professional football.
Kenny’s legacy was continued by many other African American players who followed him, such as Sammy Baugh, Joe Perry, Marion Motley, and so on. These are the players who truly put an end to decades of injustice.
The example that was set by Kenny Washington spurred outstandingly talented African American players to enter professional football and made the game better and more popular. He showed that a determined individual can break the barriers and shatter the boundaries of prejudice and racism. He is more than a name to me – he is an example and an icon of empowerment and success. Thanks to his courage, and the courage of other African American trailblazers, the game of football continues to evolve and grow.