Jim Costa: “I also rise today to recognize the career of Tom Flores, a trailblazer in the Latino/Hispanic communities in…”

“I also rise today to recognize the career of Tom Flores, a trailblazer in the Latino/Hispanic communities in professional football. It is appropriate. With the Super Bowl coming up this Sunday, I can't think of a better time to do it. A native of my hometown, Fresno, California, Tom Flores was a gifted athlete, both in high school and college, and, later, in professional football. He played for the Oakland Raiders, becoming the first Hispanic starting quarterback in professional football. Tom's success didn't stop there. After ending his playing career, he went on to win Super Bowl XI as the assistant coach for the Raiders in 1977. Then, 4 years later, he again led the team to victory as head coach, becoming the first Hispanic coach to win a Super Bowl, both in 1980 and in 1983. He won it twice. To this day, he is one of only two people in history to win multiple Super Bowls as a player, an assistant coach, and a head coach. Mike Ditka is the only other coach who falls in that category. Tom Flores is terrific. He left professional football with a record of 97 wins and 87 losses as head coach, including a playoff record of 8 wins and 3 losses, including a stint as head coach and general manager of the Seattle Seahawks. Since retiring, Tom Flores has used his influence to bring educational opportunities to the valley, his home, a place he has never, ever forgotten, through the Tom Flores Youth Foundation effort.…”