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Gutierrez: 3 Raiders intertwining success between the Silver and Black, Hispanic community, paving paths to inaugural Hall of Fame class

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For five oft-glorious Silver and Black-tinted seasons, a stretch from 1979-83 that included the franchise's two most recent Super Bowl championships, Tom Flores, Jim Plunkett and Ted Hendricks shared the Raiders sideline.

Flores as head coach.

Plunkett as a quarterback.

Hendricks as a game-changing linebacker.

Come May 5, the trio will be enshrined forever in the recently-founded Hispanic Football Hall of Fame as part of the seven-member inaugural class, which was announced Tuesday morning. Flores, Plunkett and Hendricks will be joined by Anthony Muñoz, Ron Rivera and the late Tom Fears and Steve Van Buren.

"How about that?" Flores, who turns 89 on March 21, said over the phone with a big-bellied laugh when told of his selection. "It means a lot. It shows what we can do. It sets a principle that no one should hold off on hiring one of us. Because the business we're in is all about winning."

Flores was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2021.

Asked what it meant for him to be in the Hispanic Football Hall of Fame's first class with Plunkett and Hendricks, whose last game was the Raiders' Super Bowl XVIII victory (yeah, he played a week later in the Pro Bowl, but stick with me), Flores paused.

The Iceman-turned-coach transitioned into a teacher. Just like back in the day.

"A lot of people don't know that Ted's mom was Guatemalan," Flores said. "I coached them all. I used to spank them."

More belly laughs ensued from Flores, who boasts four Super Bowl rings (one as a backup QB for the Chiefs, another as an assistant on John Madden's Super Bowl XI-winning staff and two more as the Raiders head coach for Super Bowls XV and XVIII).

"Those," Flores said softly, "were some good days."

The best days. Especially when it came to Plunkett's Lazarus-like career.

Heisman Trophy winner at Stanford in 1970, the first of three Latinos to win the award, along with Bryce Young in 2021 and, ahem, Fernando Mendoza last fall.

No. 1 overall draft pick by the Patriots in 1971. Beat up and beat down while with New England and the 49ers through 1977 so much so that he considered quitting.

Super Bowl XV MVP and 1980 NFL comeback player of the year. And Super Bowl XVIII champ who boasted a career postseason record of 8-2.

Credited, along with Flores, with giving rise to the Raiders' burgeoning Latino/Hispanic fan base. And not just for being there, but for, as Flores said, winning.

"It's always an honor, especially to represent the Hispanic community," Plunkett told me. "I'm honored to keep it going and, well, I hope it continues."

Plunkett, too, was happy to share this stage with Flores and Hendricks. Plunkett has always been intrinsically linked with Flores, what with that all-important QB/coach connection.

But the free-spirited Hendricks, who entered Canton in 1990?

"Ted was a great teammate," Plunkett said, with a slow-rising chuckle. "He might be the best linebacker to ever play football. He did it his own way and he was extremely successful. To go in with these two gentlemen is an honor."

From a personal perspective, it was more than a privilege to be on the Hispanic Football Hall's selection committee. To see these three more-than-deserving candidates go in together in the inaugural class, that is the ultimate chef's beso. (Yes, that's Spanish for "kiss.")

Then how's this for a farewell abrazo? (Si, Spanish for "hug.")

This Hall's Celebración de Fútbol will induct the inaugural class, as well as honor it's Pro Player of the Year (Broncos linebacker Nik Bonitto), College Player of the Year (the afore-mentioned Mendoza) and High School Player of the Year (El Dorado of El Paso, Texas running back Ryan Estrada). Not only will it be held on Cinco de Mayo, but it will also be held in Southern Nevada.

The Raiders have long stood for diversity and inclusion, so the franchise being connected to the Hispanic Football Hall of Fame makes all the sense in the world.

A fact not lost on Raiders owner Mark Davis.

"Wow, that's very cool, awesome," Davis said, when told of the three Raiders being honored. "It's great for the Raiders to be represented in the inaugural class. Tom, Jim and Ted? That's pretty impressive."

Muy impresionate. Maybe even, well, glorious.

Check out the Raiders' best celebration photos of 2025.

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