Media Assessments of Black NCAA Quarterback Performance

• In Event: Thursday Roundtable Session 4:20 pm
  In Roundtable Session: Critical Examination of the Gendered and Racialized Experiences of College Athletes (Table 16)

Abstract

This study examined pre-draft analyses of prospective NFL quarterbacks generated by four major media outlets’ prior to the NFL draft. The text of pre-draft media reporting was coded for text analyses along the themes “accuracy”, “athleticism”, and “Intelligence.” The language utilized in the assessments was contrasted with previously researched racial stereotypes, and their conclusions were compared to the prospects’ NCAA performance record and subsequent NFL performance. Pre-draft prospect analyses were found to align with racial stereotypes and were frequently inconsistent with the prospects’ collegiate production and/or subsequent performance in the NFL. Implications for accountability in hiring practices are discussed.

Author

• Keith E. Howard, Chapman University