Celebrating Asian American Heritage Month: John Lee, first Korean American to play in the NFL

John Lee, born May 19, 1964 in Seoul, South Korea, is the first Asian American to play in the National Football League.  He played baseball in South Korea before moving to Los Angeles with his parents when he was in the sixth grade.  He began playing football in high school and was granted an athletic scholarship to UCLA for his kicking talent.

He went on to set many kicking records, some of which still stand today, while at UCLA. 

He was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the second round of the 1986 NFL draft, to a four-year $900,000 contract, the highest paid player at that time for his position.  Lee is the first Asian American to play in the NFL.  Unfortunately, Lee suffered a slump and began missing field goals.  He was waived in 1987 and signed as a free agent by the LA Raiders in 1988 but was waived after missing 2 out of 3 field goals in the preseason.

https://youtube.com/shorts/tk7TQmWSA8w?si=bxQJho7ieBx8jPlr

Celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month: Tom Fears, first Mexican-American drafted into the NFL

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.