ANTHONY FLANAGAN

Anthony Flanagan, the first African American quarterback at the University of Georgia, was a historic multi-sport athlete at Atlanta’s Southwest High. He was named AJC Class 2A Back of the Year and a Parade All-American in 1973, when he led Southwest’s football team to the Class 2A championship. Flanagan was 126-of-233 passing for 2,136 yards and a state-record 31 touchdowns on a 13-0 team. He also scored 12 rushing touchdowns and kicked 56 extra points and two field goals. Additionally, the 1973 team was the first all-Black football team to win a GHSA championship. Flanagan was ambidextrous and could throw a football 70 yards with his throwing arm and nearly 60 with the other. Flanagan was an All-State basketball player who led Southwest to state championships in 1972 and 1973. Flanagan signed with Georgia and played basketball the first two seasons, leading those teams in assists. In the second game of the 1976 football season against Clemson in a backup role, Flanagan became Georgia’s first Black quarterback and first athlete to play both football and basketball since Zippy Morocco in the 1950s. After leaving Georgia, Flanagan returned to Atlanta and became a coach. He died Jan. 12, 2001, at age 44 from complications of diabetes. The City of Atlanta named a recreation center after Flanagan in 2016.