The Latest: Raiders coach Tom Flores enters Hall of Fame
CANTON, Ohio (AP) — The Latest on the Pro Football Hall of Fame inductions:
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The first man to win Super Bowls as a player, assistant coach and head coach, Tom Flores has been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Flores was a backup quarterback for the Chiefs in the fourth Super Bowl, a Raiders assistant to John Madden in the ninth, and head coach when the Raiders won the 15th and 18th games.
Despite the chaos surrounding the Raiders as owner Al Davis filed lawsuits against the NFL, Flores kept the ship afloat. And more: his overall record against Hall of Fame coaches Don Shula, Bill Walsh, Chuck Noll and Tom Landry was 12-4.
Flores, of Mexican descent, long ago became a hero to the Latino community, a symbol of success on and off the field.
Explaining to the crowd — which shouted “Raiders” as he rose from his wheelchair and also when he stood at the podium — why he was scheduled second to speak, Flores said “I’m 84 years old, I go to bed at 9 o’clock. Where’s my pillow?”
“Being at this enshrinement,” he added, “means the world to me.”
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Drew Pearson likely figured it would take a Hail Mary for him to get into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Nope. Pearson has been inducted into the shrine as a senior member.
The former standout receiver for Dallas from 1973-83 was a three-time All-Pro who made the NFL’s 1970s All-Decade Team. He was the only position player from that squad not in the hall.
Pearson, of course, caught Roger Staubach’s winning touchdown pass in a 1975 playoff game at Minnesota that is considered the original Hail Mary. But he should be recognized for 557 catches, including postseason, for nearly 9,000 yards and 56 touchdowns.
“This confirms it,” Pearson said after noting his bust’s hairdo. “I had the biggest Afro in NFL history.
“The wait is over. How about that! A tough long journey on the road less traveled.”
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With the 20 members of the class of 2020 now enshrined, the Pro Football Hall of Fame turns its attention to inducting eight men from the class of 2021.
Peyton Manning, John Lynch, Calvin Johnson, Charles Woodson and Alan Faneca are being inducted as modern-day players at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. Tom Flores will enter in the coaching category, Drew Pearson in the senior category.
Bill Nunn, who was recognized posthumously in April from the contributors, will be featured in a video tribute.
Inducted on Saturday were coaches Bill Cowher and Jimmy Johnson; former NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue; safeties Troy Polamalu, Steve Atwater, Donnie Shell, and Cliff Harris; receivers Harold Carmichael and Isaac Bruce; guard Steve Hutchinson and tackle Jimbo Covert; and running back Edgerrin James. Video tributes were paid to eight members of the class of 2020 or the centennial class who have died: executive George Young; safety Bobby Dillon; defensive tackle Alex Karras; offensive tackles Duke Slater and Winston Hill; NFL films co-founder Steve Sabol; receiver Mac Speedie; and defensive end/linebacker Ed Sprinkle.
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