I hope you enjoy this information about famous Latino Professional Football players, questions and answers below as much as I have.
Question: Who were former famous Latin pro football players?strong>
Answer:
Anthony Munoz (Offensive Line – All Pro) – Cincinnati Bengals
Ignacio Saturnino “Lou” Molinet, Halfback, Cornell University, 1927 Frankford Yellowjackets
Jesse Rodriguez, Fullback/Punter, Salem College, 1929 Buffalo Bisons
Kelly Rodriguez, Halfback, West Virginia Wesleyan College, 1930-1931 Frankford Yellowjackets/Minneapolis Red Jackets
Waldo Don Carlos, Center, Drake University, Played 1931 Green Bay Packers
Joe Aguirre, End, St. Mary’s College of California, 1941, 1943-1945 Washington Redskins, 1946-1949 Los Angeles Dons of the All-America Football Conference (AAFC)
Peter Perez, Guard, University of Illinois, 1945 Chicago Bears
Eddie Saenz, Halfback, USC, 1946-1951 Washington Redskins
John Sanchez, Tackle, University of San Francisco, 1947 Detroit Lions, 1947-1949 Washington Redskins, 1949-1950 New York Giants
Gonzalo Morales, Halfback, St. Mary’s College of California, Played 1947-1948 Pittsburgh Steelers
Daniel Garza, End, University of Oregon, 1949 New York Yankees (AAFC), 1950 New York Yanks
Ray Romero, Guard, Kansas State University, 1951 Philadelphia Eagles
Joe Arenas, Halfback, University of Omaha-Nebraska, 1951-1957 San Francisco 49ers
Genaro “Gene” Brito, End, Loyola University, 1951-1953, 1955-1958 Washington Redskins, 1959-1960 Los Angeles Rams
George Maderos, Defensive Back, Chico State University, 1955-1956 San Francisco 49ers
Ricardo Jose “Rick” Casares, Fullback, University of Florida, Played 1955-1964 Chicago Bears, 1965 Washington Redskins, 1966 Miami Dolphins
Alex Bravo, Defensive Back, California Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo, 1957-1958 Los Angeles Rams, 1960-1961 Oakland Raiders
Please see additional information for Latin Pro Football Players below:
General History – Latin-Americans in Pro Football
Pioneers, Milestones and Firsts
By Mario Longoria
Special to Profootballhof.com
In 2000, Heidi Cadwell contacted the Pro Football Hall of Fame about donating her grandfather’s NFL contract from 1927. Her call was of great interest to the Hall because at the time it was widely believed that Jesse Rodriguez, a fullback-punter with the 1929 Buffalo Bisons, was the first Hispanic player in NFL history. Further research by the Hall of Fame and Hispanic historian Mario Longoria confirmed that, in fact, Ignacio “Lou” Molinet played in the NFL in 1927. Molinet, a native of Chaparra, Cuba, played nine games for the Frankford Yellowjackets that season.
1920-1931
The contract of Ignacio Molinet was issued and completed in 1927, the first Hispanic-American player in the NFL.
Hispanic American Firsts in the Modern Era
First Hispanic American Drafted by a NFL Club: Joe Aguirre, End (St. Mary’s College of California) Picked by the Washington Redskins in the ninth round of the 1941 draft.
First Hispanic American Quarterback in the NFL: Tom Flores (Pacific), Oakland Raiders (AFL) 1960
First Hispanic American to Win All-League Honors: Tom Fears (Santa Clara/UCLA), Los Angeles Rams, 1949
First Hispanic American to Win Individual League Statistical Championship: Eddie Saenz, Halfback (USC). Washington Redskins 1947 (kickoff return yardage)
First Hispanic American Elected to Pro Football Hall of Fame: Tom Fears, End (Santa Clara/UCLA), Los Angeles Rams 1948-1956, elected 1970
First Hispanic American Selected First Overall in the NFL Draft: Jim Plunkett, Quarterback (Stanford), New England Patriots 1971.
Coaching Firsts by Hispanic Americans
First Hispanic American Head Coaches: Tom Fears, 1967-70 New Orleans Saints and 1974-1975 Southern California Sun (WFL); Tom Flores, 1979-1988 Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders, and 1992-1994 Seattle Seahawks.
First Hispanic American Assistant Coaches: Tom Fears, 1959, 1962-1964 Green Bay Packers, 1960-1961 Los Angeles Rams, 1965 Atlanta Falcons; Tom Flores, 1971 Buffalo Bills, 1972-1978 Oakland Raiders; Pete Rodriguez, 1983-1984 Michigan Panthers (USFL), 1985 Denver Gold (USFL), 1986 Jacksonville Bulls (USFL), 1987 Ottawa Rough Riders (CFL), 1988-1989 Los Angeles Raiders, 1990-1993 Phoenix Cardinals, 1994-1997 Washington Redskins, 1998-2001 Seattle Seahawks.
HispanicSportsBusiness Update
• In a trade announced April 23, the Kansas City Chiefs traded tight end Tony González – one of the NFL’s most widely-known Latino stars – to the Atlanta Falcons for a 2010 second-round draft pick. González is the only tight end in league history to be selected to 10 Pro Bowls. He holds the NFL record for tight ends with 916 receptions; 10,940 yards receiving; 76 receiving touchdowns and 26 100-yard receiving games. González, 33, asked for a trade in October 2008 during the Chiefs’ 2-14 season. As a member of the Falcons, he is expected to make an instant impact and make the team a Super Bowl contender.
BIOGRAPHY
Mark Sánchez
Age: 22
Birthplace: Long Beach, CA
High School: Mission Viejo High School, Mission Viejo, CA
College: University of Southern California
Football position: quarterback
Sánchez is a third-generation Mexican American. His great-grandfather was born in Zacatecas, Mexico and was one of the displaced Hispanics who lived in Los Angeles’ Chávez Ravine – a hardscrabble place where Mexican immigrant families were cleared out to make way for Dodgers Stadium. Sánchez hails from a family of football players. Older brother Nick Sánchez Jr. was a Yale University quarterback, and his other older brother, Brandon Sánchez, played on DePauw University’s offensive line. Dad Nick Sánchez Sr. was a quarterback at East Los Angeles College. Sánchez’s growing Los Angeles fan base includes legions of Latinos, and his fame in the Mexican-American community has already been likened to that of now-retired boxer Oscar de la Hoya and retired Los Angeles Dodgers pitching legend Fernando Valenzuela. Sánchez began taking Spanish lessons in his junior year at USC so he could conduct interviews with Spanish-language media without the need of a translator. Interest in Sánchez from Mexico-based media in addition to U.S.-based networks prompted the decision.
Active Latin Players in the NFL Today:
Roberto Garza of the Bears is one of 24 Hispanic-American players on NFL rosters this season. The complete list:
Ken Amato, LS, Tennessee
Richard Angulo, TE, Jacksonville
Adam Archuleta, S, Chicago
Jason Babin, LB, Houston
Greg Camarillo, WR, Miami
Luis Castillo, DT, San Diego
Eduardo Castaneda, LB, Houston
Frank Davis, G, Detroit
Donnie Edwards, LB Kansas City
Antonio Garay, T, Chicago
Jeff Garcia, QB, Tampa Bay
Roberto Garza, C, Chicago
Anthony Gonzalez, WR, Indianapolis
Tony Gonzalez, TE, Kansas City
Martin Gramatica, PK, Dallas
Joselio Hanson, CB, Philadelphia
J.P. Losman, QB, Buffalo
Oscar Lua, LB, New England
Glenn Martinez, WR, Denver
Ramiro Pruneda, T, Kansas City
Mauel Ramirez, G, Detroit
Tony Romo, QB, Dallas
Salomon Solano, DT, Detroit
Daniel Sepulveda, P, Pittsburgh
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