I’ve read on several occasions that Tom Flores is one of the classiest individuals in professional football.  The one time that I met him, Flores was very polite, and happy to speak with fans and old teammates.

The following article talks about Flores impact on the game, his accomplishments, and his (and quarterback Jim Plunkett’s) worthiness of induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.  The funny thing is that Flores’s playing career is barely even acknowledged in the article; everything is based on his success as head coach of the Raiders.  Keep in mind that Flores was no slouch as a signal-caller.  He typically finished among the top quarterbacks in most offensive categories during the first half of the AFL, despite being on some poor teams in the early years.  He was an AFL player from 1960-1969 (though he sat out the 1962 season with tuberculosis), one of just 20 players to accomplish the feat.  He was instrumental in the Raiders turnaround under Al Davis in 1963, and was a member of the Super Bowl IV-winning Kansas City Chiefs.

Oh yes, and he won two super bowls as a head coach.

FLORES, PLUNKETT DESERVE CANTON CALL