New homes. New sports fields. A health-centric campus. Sweeping change could be coming to a historically ethnic enclave that longtime South Omahans fondly refer to as old Sheelytown.
The Making of The Magician: Marlin Briscoe’s path from packinghouses to the pros In the first installment of our series about the life and legacy of Marlin Briscoe, modern American pro football’s first Black starting quarterback, we take a close look at his roots. By Ben Swanson Feb 23, 2021
In 1968, a small quarterback from Omaha, Nebraska, took the field for the Broncos and made history as modern American pro football s first Black starting quarterback. He dazzled and delighted crowds at Mile High, but a year later, he was gone from Denver. As we celebrate Black History Month, we re taking a closer look at the life and legacy of Marlin Briscoe. Today, we begin with his path from the housing projects outside Omaha s packinghouses to the cusp of pro football.