Official Site of the Eagles · Feb 1, 2016
Didinger: Goldston, Stevens Were Pioneers
The year was 1995, 50 years after the color barrier came down in professional football. I was in Canton, Ohio, for the dedication of the expanded Pro Football Hall of Fame and found myself seated next to Marion Motley, the great fullback who was part of the game's integration following World War II.We began talking and Motley, who admitted he didn't follow the NFL that closely, was surprised to learn the Eagles had a black head coach (Ray Rhodes) and not one but two black quarterbacks (Randall Cunningham and Rodney Peete).
"Is that right?" Motley said. "What's the coach's name? Ray Rhodes? How's he doing?"
Told Rhodes was doing well in his first season, Motley nodded and smiled.
