Sam Cunningham (1950–2021), NFL star who inspired college football integration
Sam Cunningham was a football player who helped break down racial barriers at the University of Southern California before excelling with the New England Patriots.Cunningham joined the USC Trojans in 1970, becoming part of an integrated team with an all-Black backfield that was unusual for the time. In his first college game, the Trojans traveled to the University of Alabama, where they beat the Crimson Tide 42 to 21, thanks in part to Cunningham’s two touchdowns.