The Forgotten First: Kenny Washington, Woody Strode, Marion Motley, Bill Willis, and the Breaking of the NFL Color Barrier

This book follows the lives of four remarkable men—Kenny Washington, Woody Strode, Marion Motley, and Bill Willis—who broke barriers in professional football during a tumultuous era.

On March 21, 1946, just over a year before Jackie Robinson shattered the color barrier in Major League Baseball, Kenny Washington, a former UCLA star running back and teammate of Robinson’s, made history by signing a contract with the Los Angeles Rams. This pivotal moment marked the end of a shameful period in NFL history when African-American players were barred from league play.

Washington’s trailblazing success was not isolated. Just months after joining the Rams, influential Los Angeles political and civic leaders orchestrated a concerted effort to integrate the team. Woody Strode, a teammate of Washington and Robinson at UCLA, was signed to the Rams, joining Washington on one of the most celebrated backfields in college sports history. Additionally, in the same year, Paul Brown, a pioneering coach of the fledgling Cleveland Browns, made history by signing running back Marion Motley and defensive lineman Bill Willis, integrating a startup league that would eventually merge with the NFL.

(This book may contain a sharpie mark on the top or bottom edge and may show mild signs of shelfwear.)