TEXAS — No matter the outcome, Sunday night will be historic for the NFL. Two Texas-born and raised athletes are making history at the Super Bowl for being the first time two Black quarterbacks will go head to head during Black History Month, and the halftime show will be performed by Rihanna, the country's youngest self-made Black billionaire.

Philadelphia Eagles QB Jalen Hurts and 2020 Super Bowl MVP QB Patrick Mahomes, who plays for the Kansas City Chiefs, will make Texas proud regardless of who wins.

When asked what took so long for two Black quarterbacks to face off in the sport's biggest game, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said Wednesday in a press conference, “Probably a variety of reasons. Probably none of them good.”

The NFL has had a long history of racial calamity since its inception in 1920. During the Civil Rights era, racial segregation was the social norm and sports were no exception. Fritz Pollard is credited as having been he first Black man to play football professionally during the league's formative years, starting in the 1921 season.

In 1946, UCLA superstars Kenny Washington and Woody Strode signed to the Los Angeles Rams after the Los Angeles Coliseum threatened to evict the Rams unless they signed an African-American player, according to the National Football League Players Association.

Forty-two years and a few monumental civil rights laws later, Doug Williams made history as the first Black starting QB to win the Super Bowl for the Washington Redskins. Since then, only 35 years later, only seven Black quarterbacks have stepped foot on the turf for the big game day.

So how did these two Texas natives rise to the national stage to make history? The massive machine that is Texas high school football had a hand in their destiny, of course.

Jalen Hurts, who is from in Channelview, Texas and played for Channelview High School’s football team, has left a lasting impression on his alma mater. Channelview ISD is honoring their “hometown hero” during their theme week on Friday with a “Fly Eagles Fly! Day”, according to the district.

Following his graduation in 2016, Hurts was recruited to play for the University of Alabama under legendary college coach Nick Saban. Hurts’ run with the Crimson Tide was historic as he became the first freshman QB to start under Saban, according to the University of Alabama. His run at the University of Alabama ended when he transferred his senior year to the University of Oklahoma, following a benching during the National Championship game in 2018. The Philadelphia Eagles drafted Hurts in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

Patrick Mahomes was born and raised in Tyler, Texas, just east of Dallas. Mahomes was an all-around athlete at Whitehouse High School, where he played football, baseball and basketball. Following graduation, the Texas Tech Raiders scooped Mahomes up, which led to him being ranked as one of the most elite passers in the college’s history, according to Texas Tech. Mahomes forwent his senior year to go to the 2017 NFL Draft where he was selected 10th overall.

If the Philadelphia Eagles pull off a win on the big day, Jalen Hurts will become the fourth starting QB younger than 25 to win the Super Bowl. Both Mahomes and Hurts are competing for not only the championship title, but were finalists for the regular season's Most Valuable Player award, which Mahomes won for a second time.

Not only are these two quarterbacks making history all on their own, but Rihanna, the youngest Black woman to become a self-made billionaire, according to Forbes, will perform Sunday's halftime show. This year’s Super Bowl is a win for Black history and the heritage that predates the stars of the show.