Thomas Fears, born December 3, 1922 in Guadalajara, Mexico, became the first Mexican-born player to be drafted into the National Football League. His family moved to Los Angeles when he was six. He attended LA's Manual Arts High School where he first played football. He enrolled at Santa Clara University but studied only one year before being drafted to serve the next three years in military service in WWII. Although he sought to become a fighter pilot, he was shipped to Colorado Springs to play football for a service team.
When he was released, he was drafted by the Rams in 1945 as a defensive back, but remained in school, and transferred to UCLA. His abilities allowed him to become a wide receiver in 1948. In his first three seasons, he led all NFL receivers in catches, and broke the league's single-season record with 77 catches in 1949.
During the October 18, 1953 game against the Detroit Lions, he fractured two vertebrae, which would limit his ability for the next to years.
On January 27, 1957, he was hired as head coach of the New Orleans Saints expansion team, becoming the first Latino head coach in the NFL. His term was not long, and after three dismal seasons, he was replaced.
He passed away in January 2000 after a six-year battle with Alzheimer's disease. He is the first Mexican-born NFL player inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
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