Las Vegas Raiders legend Tom Flores was finally given his due after earning a spot on the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2021.
The honor is long overdue for Flores, who established himself as a trailblazer during his time in the NFL as the first Latino starting quarterback and head coach. His impressive resume includes 128 regular-season wins and four Super Bowls while paving the way for countless minority coaches in the years to come.
Despite Flores’ efforts, he had been snubbed by the committee to be enshrined in Canton since being eligible for the honor in the late 1990s. Fortunately, all was finally made right now that the 83-year-old is set to put the cherry on top of an illustrious career.
Flores was admittedly speechless when David Baker and team owner Mark Davis arrived at his house to deliver the good news, via the team’s official Twitter:
"My life is complete now."
The moment Hall of Famer Tom Flores will remember forever. pic.twitter.com/vwb9zkufVD
— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) February 11, 2021
Flores’ excitement is certainly understandable considering just how long he has had to wait in order to receive such a prestigious honor. He is now set to take his rightful place among the game’s most impactful figures when his bust is enshrined in the Hall of Fame.
Flores won Super Bowl IV as the backup quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs before joining the Raiders’ sidelines to win three more as a coach. He and Mike Ditka are the only people in NFL history to win a Super Bowl as a player, assistant coach and head coach.
Not only was he the first Hispanic to win a Super Bowl ring, but he is also the first minority coach to win the Lombardi Trophy in NFL history. His contributions to the game helped lay the groundwork for the successful minority coaches that have since come after him.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement ceremony is scheduled to be held in August.
