The NFL quarterback position has evolved tremendously since the league’s inception. This evolution has made it even more critical, becoming the cornerstone of a team’s success or failure. In today’s game, the quarterback’s performance often defines a franchise’s trajectory, making the position more vital than ever.
One of the most dynamic quarterbacks in league history, Warren Moon, stopped by GoJo and Golic to discuss the current state of the NFL quarterback and which rookie quarterback has impressed him the most.
To kick off the segment, Mike Golic Jr. asks Moon about his impression of the Amazon Prime documentary Evolution of the Black Quarterback, hosted by Michael Vick, and what it is like to be part of such an esteemed brotherhood of quarterbacks. He expresses that it was eye-opening and psychologically helpful because it is hard to talk about those times and the hardships and scrutiny that black quarterbacks encounter. Moreover, the documentary covers the history from the beginning to the present, with Moon adding that 15 black quarterbacks started on opening day in the NFL and he likes to think he had a part to play in making that possible.
Moon is not wrong in his impact on the game and the position. Mike Golic Sr. helps Warren contextualize this point by asking about his decision not to pursue the NFL out of college, instead deciding to join the Canadian Football League, where he won five Grey Cups with the Edmonton Eskimos after his time as the Washington Huskies signal caller. Moon mentions that it was a bittersweet moment for him, given he felt as if he had done all he cloud to get drafted to the NFL and had the accolades to prove it. He was then-Pac-8 (now Pac-12) player of the year and the Rose Bowl MVP his final season.
However, scouts believed his talent would be best shown at a different position besides quarterback, with some encouraging him to play defensive back or receiver and even telling him he would be a late-round selection at quarterback. He shares that the CFL treated him as if he was a first-rounder, emphasizing to the Golics that all he asked for was an opportunity to play quarterback in the NFL. He even mentioned that if teams did not like his performance they could cut him, and if that had happened, he was going to head to law school. YES, you read that right. One of the game’s most talented quarterbacks was going to trade in his cleats for legal briefs, a decision football fanatics are glad he did not make.
Getting to today’s players, out of all this season’s rookie quarterbacks, Jayden Daniels has impressed the most, leading the Commanders to an impressive 4-1 record atop the NFC East. GoJo asks Moon what he has seen in Daniels that has allowed him to find early success. Moon recalled meeting Daniels during his Arizona State Sun Devils days on a discussion panel about black quarterbacks and was impressed with his poise and maturity at such a young age. Additionally, he highlights how impressed he is by Daniels’ high completion percentage with a receiver he has not had much time with. Further, he spotlights Jayden’s Impact on the team and how he has changed the culture of Commanders.
For someone whose dual-threat ability changed the game as we know it, Warren was asked by Senior to evaluate the evolution of the NFL quarterback position from where it was in the days of yesteryear to where we are today. Moon mentions that the league is starting to move towards dual-threat quarterbacks. Teams need quarterbacks that can move, especially when facing off with edge rushers who are now equipped with 4.3-4.4 speed and that the offensive line struggles to block. Warren believes that having athleticism makes you more valuable as a quarterback in today’s NFL.
Watch or listen to the full show below and tune into GoJo and Golic weekday mornings from 8-10 a.m. ET on DraftKings Network! See more about how to watch DraftKings Network here.
SHOW BREAKDOWN
Hour 1: TNF Preview—Brock’s 49ers at Geno’s Seahawks, The Mets Advance and Aaron Rodgers on Robert Saleh + The Saints’ Spencer Rattler Era
Hour 2: Sam Pittman, Arkansas Head Coach on Beating Tennessee & Storming The Field Fines + Warren Moon, Pro Football HoFer on the Evolution of NFL Quarterbacks
VIDEO
Watch GoJo and Golic every weekday on Samsung TV Plus, Roku, Xumo Play, Google TV and DraftKingsNetwork.com from 8 to 10 a.m. ET. The show is also available via audio on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also follow Mike Golic Sr. on X at @golic and Mike Golic Jr. on X at @mikegolicjr.
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