Tom Flores, a true football pioneer and one of the most successful individuals in pro football history, is a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
In pro football's modern era, few people can approach the track record of success and the overall impact that Flores has had on the game. Flores was the first person to win Super Bowl championships as a player, assistant coach and head coach, capturing two of those world championships of professional football as head coach of the Raiders. His four Super Bowl rings set a standard for excellence that has rarely been approached.
Flores' success spanned professional football's decades of ascent, beginning in the upstart American Football League (AFL) and moving through two decades of dominance in the NFL. His imprint on the Raiders franchise is indelible and his overall impact on America's greatest game is unmistakable.
Saturday, we'll find out during the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2019 set to be announced during the CBS broadcast of "NFL Honors" whether Flores has been inducted, the show will air on Feb. 2 at 3 p.m. PT.
Before that gets underway, let's review some important numbers from Flores' career.
4 - Flores was the first person in NFL history to win Super Bowl championships as a player, and as a coach. His four Super Bowl rings set a standard for excellence that has rarely been approached.
106 - The number of games Flores played as a quarterback in the NFL — he started in 68 games.
93 - During his nine seasons in the league, Flores threw 93 touchdowns — 83 as a Raider.
.610 - Flores recorded a remarkable .610 winning percentage (83-53) in nine seasons as head coach of the Silver and Black, a higher regular-season winning percentage than contemporary Hall of Fame coaches Bill Walsh, Tom Landry and Chuck Noll.
.727 - Flores also garners an extraordinary all-time postseason winning percentage of .727. Only Vince Lombardi has a better record in the postseason (min. 10 games).
10 - During his nine seasons as the Raiders head coach, Flores coached 10 Hall of Famers: Art Shell, Gene Upshaw, Ted Hendricks, Mike Haynes, Howie Long, Dave Casper, Marcus Allen, James Lofton, Ray Guy, and Ken Stabler.
11 - Flores was fortunate enough to make it to the postseason 11 times, as a Head Coach (5), an assistant coach (5), and as a player (1).
8 - Flores was able to help lead the Raiders to eight AFC West titles as a head coach, and an assistant coach, spanning from 1972-1976, 1982, 1983, 1985.
First - The first Latino quarterback in pro football history, the first to win a Super Bowl as a player and a coach, the first minority head coach to win a Super Bowl, and the first minority President and General Manager.
Now if only Flores can get to Canton where he belongs.
