The 2019 Hall of Fame class includes: Champ Bailey, Pat Bowlen, Gil Brandt, Tony Gonzalez, Ty Law, Kevin Mawae, Ed Reed and Johnny Robinson.
Tom Flores was NOT elected to the @ProFootballHOF. 81 year old @SangerApaches grad was a finalist for the 1st time. Flores is one of two humans in NFL history to win a Super Bowl as a player, assistant coach, and head coach. @ABC30 https://t.co/RueXemfw4Q
— Stephen Hicks (@StephenABC30) February 2, 2019
Tom Flores presented by Frank Cooney, The Sports Xchange
— Pro Football Hall of Fame (@ProFootballHOF) February 2, 2019
#PFHOF19 pic.twitter.com/0Y6U3RblKq
Flores was named a Pro Football Hall of Fame finalist for the first time back in November.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame selection meeting has concluded. Longest discussions for the modern-era finalists were held on Ty Law (27:16), Tony Boselli (26:10), Kevin Mawae (24:52), Don Coryell (22:37) and Tom Flores (18:54). The shortest was Ed Reed (2:20).
— Matt Maiocco (@MaioccoNBCS) February 2, 2019
Born in Fresno in March of 1937, Flores was a graduate of Sanger High School. The Apaches football field is named "Tom Flores Stadium." The Sanger grad played quarterback for two seasons at Fresno City College in 1955-56 and then graduated from the University of the Pacific in 1958. It wasn't until 1960 that he got into the NFL, but that year he became the first ever Hispanic starting quarterback in professional football for the Oakland Raiders.
Tom Flores presented by Frank Cooney, The Sports Xchange
— Pro Football Hall of Fame (@ProFootballHOF) February 2, 2019
#PFHOF19 pic.twitter.com/0Y6U3RblKq
After a ten year career as a player with the Raiders, Bills and Chiefs, Flores began his coaching career. First as an assistant under John Madden's Super Bowl winning Raiders team in 1976. Then as the head coach of the Raiders Super Bowl winning teams in 1980 & 1983 where he became the first minority coach to win a Super Bowl.
"He's done it all."
— Oakland Raiders (@Raiders) February 2, 2019
His peers agree: Tom Flores should be in Canton. #FloresToCanton pic.twitter.com/mZYp872qTY
His 83 wins are the second most in Raiders franchise history behind only Madden (103-90 record as a head coach including 3 seasons with the Seahawks). From 1997-2017 he was the color commentator alongside Greg Papa for the Raiders Radio Network.