In 1946, four men reintegrated pro football. In this episode, we look at how each of them ended up at the precipice of history, as they prepared to cross the sport’s color barrier.  Host: Chelsea Stark-Jones Co-reporter: Lex Pryor   Producers: Isaiah Blakely, Mike Wargon, Justin Sayles, and Vikram Patel  Sound Design and Original Theme Song: Devon Renaldo  Mixing and Mastering: Scott Somerville Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a>

In 1946, four men reintegrated pro football. In this episode, we look at how each of them ended up at the precipice of history, as they prepared to cross the sport’s color barrier. Host: Chelsea Stark-Jones Co-reporter: Lex Pryor Producers: Isaiah Blakely, Mike Wargon, Justin Sayles, and Vikram Patel Sound Design and Original Theme Song: Devon Renaldo Mixing and Mastering: Scott Somerville Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In 1946, four men reintegrated pro football. In this episode, we look at how each of them ended up at the precipice of history, as they prepared to cross the sport’s color barrier.&nbsp; Host: Chelsea Stark-Jones Co-reporter: Lex Pryor&nbsp;&nbsp; Producers: Isaiah Blakely, Mike Wargon, Justin Sayles, and Vikram Patel&nbsp; Sound Design and Original Theme Song: Devon Renaldo&nbsp; Mixing and Mastering: Scott Somerville Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices" rel="noopener noreferrer">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a>

2. Kenny, Woody, Bill, and Marion | Blackballed

In 1933, NFL owners secretly banned Black players from the league. Thirteen years later, four Black players—Kenny Washington, Woody Strode, Bill Willis, and Marion Motley—reintegrated pro football.

The Forgotten Four broke the race barrier in professional football one year before Jackie Robinson’s historic, and widely recognized, debut in the Major Leagues. This is their story.

It's a story that's been largely buried. But it's a story that matters today, to help understand the league's complicated relationship with race.

The four-part narrative podcast is hosted by Chelsea Stark-Jones, who worked for the NFL for a decade before coming to The Ringer. It’s co-reported by Lex Pryor, whose voice also appears throughout the series.

Sports

Football

In 1933, NFL owners secretly banned Black players from the league. Thirteen years later, four Black players—Kenny Washington, Woody Strode, Bill Willis, and Marion Motley—reintegrated pro football. The Forgotten Four broke the race barrier in professional football one year before Jackie Robinson’s historic, and widely recognized, debut in the Major Leagues. This is their story. It's a story that's been largely buried. But it's a story that matters today, to help understand the league's complicated relationship with race. The four-part narrative podcast is hosted by Chelsea Stark-Jones, who worked for the NFL for a decade before coming to The Ringer. It’s co-reported by Lex Pryor, whose voice also appears throughout the series.

In 1933, NFL owners secretly banned&nbsp;Black&nbsp;players from the league. Thirteen years later, four&nbsp;Black&nbsp;players—Kenny Washington, Woody Strode, Bill Willis, and Marion Motley—reintegrated pro football.

The Forgotten Four broke the race barrier in professional football one year before Jackie Robinson’s historic, and widely recognized, debut in the Major Leagues. This is their story.

It's a story that's been largely buried. But it's a story that matters today, to help understand the league's complicated relationship with race.

The four-part narrative podcast is hosted by Chelsea Stark-Jones, who worked for the NFL for a decade before coming to&nbsp;The Ringer. It’s co-reported by Lex Pryor, whose voice also appears throughout the series.

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2. Kenny, Woody, Bill, and Marion | Blackballed

2. Kenny, Woody, Bill, and Marion | Blackballed

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