NFL Legend Tom Flores Belongs in Pro Football Hall of Fame

November 3, 2017

Washington, DC – The National Football League (NFL) will soon vote on nominees for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2018. LULAC is proud to report that this year’s list of nominees includes Thomas Raymond Flores, a man considered a legend in the NFL. Flores has been nominated numerous times but despite his undeniable accomplishments, both as a player and head coach, he has yet to achieve the required number of votes for induction into the Hall of Fame.

In 1960, while playing for the American Football League’s Oakland Raiders in their inaugural year, Flores became the first-ever Latino starting quarterback. Even more impressive, Flores is the first and only person to win four Super Bowls, once as a player, once as assistant coach and twice as a head coach, achievements many say deserve greater recognition.

Notwithstanding, Tom Flores is also an integral part of six games played at the highest level, including one AFL Championship Win as a player (before the merger), one Super Bowl Runner Up as a contributor, and four outright Super Bowl Championships. Flores is not only a leader in the NFL, he is also a proud community advocate and recipient of the LULAC 2017 National Trailblazer Award. Upon receiving this award, Flores explained how his parents’ and grandparents’ sincere and respectful influences were the driving forces of his historic life’s journey.

Flores is the first person of color, before any other minority, to accomplish the following: Starting Quarterback in Professional Football (1960); Quarterback Kansas City Chiefs 1969 AFL Championship; Quarterback Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl IV Championship; Assistant Coach Oakland Raiders Super Bowl XI Championship; Head Coach Oakland / Los Angeles Raiders Super Bowls XV & XVIII Championships; Front Office; General Manager; Team President; NFL Competition Committee Member (Appointed by Commissioner); and contributor in a Super Bowl.

Being the first in each of these important professional sports categories further re-affirms his leadership and continuous positive impact on the history of the Pro Football to date.

Flores’ accomplishments cannot be understated. As we continue into the 98th season of the NFL, it is critically important to give Tom Flores the recognition he justly deserves as a pioneer and role model to all minority generations; and the future professional players to come. He is the oldest living Raider’s Candidate, 80 (81 for 2018 Class), and we must, by all humane and respectful standards, ensure he is inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame 2018 Class.

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The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is the nation’s largest and oldest civil rights volunteer-based organization that empowers Hispanic Americans and builds strong Latino communities. Headquartered in Washington, DC, with 1,000 councils around the United States and Puerto Rico, LULAC’s programs, services and advocacy address the most important issues for Latinos, meeting critical needs of today and the future. For more information, visit www.LULAC.org.