1969 Profiles: Jack Kemp and Marlin Briscoe

JACK KEMP
Quarterback
No. 15
Occidental
"The Buffalo quarterback this year will be Dan Darragh - that is, if neither Jack Kemp nor Tom Flores can make it back from injury-plagued seasons in 1968.
Don't bet against Kemp. Jack suffered torn knee ligaments in an unfortunate (some say needless) intrasquad scrimmage last year before the start of the season and was out the rest of the way. But his recuperation was quick; by Thanksgiving, he was skiing in California. While he feels his knee is entirely healed, Jack thinks the year off gave his tired arm a needed rest.
He's been flinging passes for 13 years now. That's long enough for him to have quarterbacked teams in five AFL Championship games (two with the Chargers, three with the Bills). In 1965, he was the league's MVP."

-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1969


MARLIN BRISCOE
Quarterback
No. 11
Nebraska-Omaha
"Going into the 1968 season, Marlin Briscoe's chances of directing the Broncos from quarterback appeared remote. His chances of making the squad were not wholly promising.
True, he had exceptional credentials from the University of Omaha, where he was ranked as the greatest quarterback in the school's history, averaging 201 yards per game in total offense and setting 22 records. But at 5-11 and 180 pounds, he was regarded as too slight to be a pro quarterback, and besides, he was a scrambler.
But when Steve Tensi received his shoulder injury in a pre-season game, the Broncos were forced to go with Marlin. And he delivered. As a passer he completed 93 throws in 224 attempts for 1,589 yards and 14 touchdowns, to rank seventh in the league; as a runner he was second on the team only to Floyd Little, as he gained 584 yards on 158 carries for a 3.7 average and three touchdowns. He ripped long runs of 51 and 68 yards, and threw as long as 60 yards for a score.
He'll be up against a recuperated Tensi again this year, but at least with the kind of offense he can provide, Marlin probably has won himself a spot somewhere. He already won one distinction last season by becoming the first Negro to quarterback a major professional football team."

-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1969