Third and Long: The History of African Americans in Pro Football
thirdandlong

The TAL Project

"Third and Long" (TAL) is a unique and ground-breaking project that examines the history, racial struggles, sacrifices and triumphs of African Americans in professional football from 1946, with the re-integration of the sport after a 13-year exclusion of Black players, through 1989, when Art Shell was named the first Black head coach of the NFL''s modern era.

The TAL documentary explores the history of racial integration in this country and the sport via the impact of societal events such as World War II, the Civil Rights Movement, Brown v. Board of Education, the assassinations of Martin Luther King and Bobby Kennedy and the Vietnam War and adds a unique viewpoint by including the perspectives and experiences of some of the players'' wives. It also examines the critical role and contributions of the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) during this time period.