by Robert Steadman

Created on: January 29, 2009

Tom Flores is a retired American football player and coach. Tom Flores and Mike Ditka are the only two people in the NFL to win a Super Bowl as a player, an assistant Coach, and a head coach.

Tom Flores graduated from the University of the Pacific in 1958. Tom Flores had a hard time to land a job in professional football. Tom was also cut by the Calgary Stampeders (CFL) in 1958, and Tom was cut by the Washington Redskins of the National Football League in 1959. In 1960, Tom Flores finally landed a position as a quarter back with the Oakland Raiders of the American Football League. Tom Flores became the first hispanic quarter back in the American professional football league. Tom Flores became the raiders' starting quarter back early in the 1960 season.

Tom Flores had his most productive season in 1966, even though Tom completed 49.3 percent of his passes. Tom passed for 2,638 yards and 24 touchdowns in 14 games. Oakland traded Tom to the Buffalo Bills in 1967. Tom was Primarily as a backup, Tom was released by the Bills and in 1969, Tom signed with the Kanas City Chiefs, where Tom was a backup for Len Dawson on the Chiefs' World Championship team.

Tom retired as a player after the 1970 season. Tom was one of the twenty players who were with AFL for its entire ten-year existence. Tom Flores is the fifth-leading passer, all-time, in the NFL.

After Tom Flores stints as an assistant coach in Buffalo and Oakland, Tom won a Super Bowl XI ring under John Madden. Tom Flores became the first non-white head coach to win a Super Bowlm winning twice Super Bowl XV and XVIII. After a 5-10 finish to the 1987 season. Tom Flores moved to the Raiders' front office, but left after just one year to become the president and general manager of the Seattle Seahwaks. Tom returned to coaching as the Seahawks in 1992, but returned to the front office following three disappointing seasons.

Tom Flores resigned from the Seahawks in 1994 following Paul Allen's purchase of the Seahawks. Tom Flores pro football with a lifetime coaching record of 97-87 52.7 percent, as well as an 8-3 record in post-season play, and with two Super Bowl victories.

Tom Flores, Jimmy Johnson, George Seifert are the only eligible coaches with two such victories in the Super Bowl who have not been selected into the Pro-Football-Hall of Fame.

Tom Flores can be heard on with Greg Papa on KSFO (560 AM) during the radio broadcast of the Oakland Raiders' game. Sanger High School stadium is named "Tom Flores Stadium" in honor of Tom Flores who has graduate of Sanger High School.

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