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Prominent Latinos in NFL History
When one thinks of Latinos in professional sports, the first images that come to mind are more than likely those of baseball players, soccer players, or boxers. There is, however, a small but very significant group of Latinos that chose the gridiron over the soccer pitch, and shoulder pads over a pair of boxing gloves. The following are members of the pigskin elite, and their contributions to professional football have helped advance and develop the sport in Hispanic communities.
ANTHONY MUNOZ
Munoz was born in Ontario, CA on August 19, 1958. He attended the University of Southern California and played for the Cincinnati Bengals. Munoz, who played offensive tackle is considered one of the best (if not the best) offensive linemen of all time. He was elected to 11 consecutive Pro Bowls and won the Offensive Lineman of the Year award in 1981 and 1988.
Although he never won the big game, Munoz played in Super Bowls XVI and XXIII with the Bengals, losing both times to Joe Montana and the San Francisco 49ers.
After retiring in 1993, he was named to the NFL’s 75th Anniversary all-time team, and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1998, the first Bengal to be enshrined in Canton.
In 2002, he launched the Anthony Muñoz Foundation, which aims to “impact Tri-State youth mentally, physically, and spiritually through impact programs.’
Munoz received the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute Medallion of Excellence in 2015 for his contributions to the Latino community.
He and his wife, DeDe, have been married for more than 40 years. They have two kids, Michael and Michelle.
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TOM FLORES
Tom Flores’ name is synonymous with the Raiders organization.
Born in 1937, Flores broke into professional football in 1960 with the then American Football League’s Oakland Raiders, becoming the first Latino starting quarterback in professional football history in the process.
After finding limited success as a player (he did win a Super Bowl in 1970 as a third-stringer for the Kansas City Chiefs), Flores retired and began his coaching career as an assistant with the Buffalo Bills. He eventually moved on to an assistant coaching position with the Raiders under John Madden, where he won another Super Bowl in 1977.
When Madden retired, Flores took over head coaching duties, and led the Raiders to Super Bowl triumphs in 1981 and 1984, becoming the first minority head coach to win the championship game.
In 1989, he made history yet again, when he became the first Latino general manager in NFL history after signing with the Seattle Seahawks.
Flores finished his coaching career with a record of 97-87, including an 8-3 mark in the playoffs. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2021.
JIM PLUNKETT
Jim Plunkett was born to Mexican-American parents in 1947 in San Jose, California. He attended Stanford University, and won both the Rose Bowl, and the Heisman Trophy (given to best collegiate player in the country) in 1970.
In 1971, He became the first Latino player drafted with the first overall pick when the Boston Patriots selected him.
After a pit stop in San Francisco with the 49ers, Plunkett signed with the Oakland Raiders. Under the tutelage of Flores, Plunkett flourished and led the Raiders to Super Bowl victories in 1981 and 1984. After throwing for 261 yards and three touchdowns against the Philadelphia Eagles, Plunkett was named MVP of Super Bowl XV, becoming the first Latino to win the award.
Although he hasn’t been elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Plunkett has nonetheless accumulated an impressive bevy of awards, including induction into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1990, and the Bay Area Hall of Fame in 1992.
In 2015, he was honored by the Cesar Chavez Foundation with the Cesar Chavez Legacy Award for “exemplifying excellence and commitment to community and advocacy.”
Plunkett and his wife, Gerry, have been married for nearly 40 years and have two children.
TONY GONZALEZ
Gonzalez is a former tight end who played 17 seasons for the Kansas City Chiefs and Atlanta Falcons.
Born in 1976 in Torrance, California, Gonzalez revolutionized the tight end position and helped pave the way for players like Rob Gronkowski of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He would routinely line up all over the field and force mismatches, a far cry from the traditional tight end who would come out of a blocking stance to catch passes.
Gonzalez was drafted in the first round of the 1997 NFL draft by the Chiefs, and played for them for 12 seasons before being traded to the Falcons in 2009.
He is a 14-time Pro Bowler, six-time 1st Team All-Pro, and a member of the NFL All-Decade Team of the 2000s. He holds NFL records for receptions (1325) and total receiving yards (15127) by a tight end.
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Gonzalez was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2019.
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