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First Quarterback

Sponsored Project

  • Jeremy Gantz, Director
  • Richard Rosen, Producer
Black and white photo of Sid holding his son Bobby. They are in front of a poster of Bobby as a quarterback.

About the Project

At a time when antisemitism is on the rise, First Quarterback looks back to a moment when a Jewish hero gave hope and pride to a generation under threat.

First Quarterback tells the story of Sid Luckman, the Jewish son of immigrants who became the first modern quarterback and helped shape the most important position in American sports. As the Holocaust unfolded overseas and Jews faced discrimination at home, Luckman rose to national fame in the 1930s and 40s, becoming a rare symbol of visibility, dignity, and possibility.

Yet behind his public legacy lay a deeply buried family secret that he carried in silence for decades. Through rare archival footage and intimate interviews, First Quarterback explores innovation, identity, and the cost of survival in America.