33 Facts About Tom Flores

Thomas Raymond Flores was born on March 21,1937 and is an American former professional football player and coach in the National Football League.

Tom Flores played as a quarterback for nine seasons in the NFL, primarily with the Oakland Raiders.

Tom Flores won a total of four Super Bowls in his playing and coaching careers.

Tom Flores was the first Mexican starting quarterback and the first minority head coach in professional football history to win a Super Bowl.

From 1997 until 2018, Tom Flores served as radio announcer for the Raiders Radio Network.

Tom Flores was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2021.

Tom Flores played quarterback for two seasons at Fresno City College, beginning in 1955.

Tom Flores was active off the field too, serving on the Student Council and as President of the Associated Men's Students.

Tom Flores received an academic scholarship to study at the College of the Pacific and graduated from the University of the Pacific in 1958.

Tom Flores came to Pacific from Fresno City College and started for the Tigers as quarterback.

Tom Flores was unable to find a job in professional football.

Tom Flores was cut by the Calgary Stampeders of the CFL in 1958, after which he played with the Bakersfield Spoilers football team.

In 1960, Tom Flores finally landed a position as a quarterback with the American Football League's Oakland Raiders, who began play in 1960 as a charter member of the league.

Tom Flores was named the Raiders' starter early that season, becoming the first-ever Hispanic starting quarterback in professional football.

However, Tom Flores hurt his shoulder before the first game, and his season was limited to a five-pass appearance in Week 6.

Tom Flores officially retired as a player after not playing a single game in the 1970 season.

Tom Flores was one of only twenty players who were in the AFL for its entire ten-year existence.

Tom Flores is the fifth-leading passer in the AFL's history.

Tom Flores is a member of the Sid Gillman coaching tree.

Tom Flores then moved with the team to Los Angeles in 1982.

Tom Flores was named AFC Coach of the year by United Press International and the Football Writer's Association in 1982.

Tom Flores returned to coaching as the Seahawks head coach in 1992, but was fired after the 1994 season following three disappointing seasons.

From 1997 until his dismissal in 2018, Tom Flores served as color commentator alongside play-by-play announcer Greg Papa for the Raiders Radio Network.

Tom Flores served as coach of the American team in the 2011 NFLPA Collegiate Bowl.

In 1961 Tom Flores married Barbara Fridell, who he met while a student at University of the Pacific.

Sanger High School's football stadium is named Tom Flores Stadium in honor of Flores, who was a graduate of Sanger.

Tom Flores was the starting quarterback while at Pacific and following his playing career with the Tigers, Flores was hired as an assistant coach at Pacific as he worked toward his master's degree.

Tom Flores holds an honorary doctorate degree from Pepperdine University for humanitarian service.

Tom Flores is still involved with the Raiders for various events.

In 1982, Tom Flores was inducted as a charter member of the University of the Pacific Athletics Hall of Fame.

In 2007, Tom Flores was inducted into the California Sports Hall of Fame.

In July 2011, Tom Flores received the Roberto Clemente Award for Sports Excellence that is given by the National Council of La Raza for contributions in society by an Hispanic athlete.

On February 6,2021, it was announced that Tom Flores would be enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, joining the Class of 2021 alongside former Raiders player Charles Woodson, Peyton Manning and 5 others.