Hispanic Football Hall of Fame set to amplify Latino contributions

If you know about Anthony Muñoz and Ron Rivera beyond their on-the-field exploits, you know they’ve spent their post-playing careers lifting their community either through charitable initiatives or through their hiring practices. NFL Network vice president Sandy Nuñez has a similar commitment. 

Nuñez, Rivera and Muñoz are now spearheading the establishment of the Hispanic Football Hall of Fame, which is a major step in celebrating the contributions of Latinos throughout all levels of football.

“It’s all of us coming together and having the idea around the same time,” Nuñez said.

Muñoz, a Mexican American, is a Cincinnati Bengals legend. The former USC All-American is considered one of the best offensive linemen in NFL history. Rivera, an All-American linebacker at Cal, had a decorated NFL playing career.

He also had a stellar coaching career in the NFL with the Carolina Panthers and Washington Commanders. Rivera now serves as general manager of the Cal football team.

Rivera, who led the Panthers to the NFC title and an appearance in Super Bowl 50, remains Carolina’s all-time wins leader.

Honoring past with eye on future

“Football has always been a sport that unites people from all backgrounds,” Rivera said. “The Hispanic Football Hall of Fame gives us an opportunity to tell the stories of incredible people who not only achieved greatness on the field but also opened doors and inspired countless young people in our communities.”

For Muñoz, who was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1998, the Hispanic Football Hall of Fame is an opportunity to celebrate the past while also helping to inspire the next generation.

“This Hall of Fame is about more than honoring the past – it’s about building a future,” Muñoz said. “I’m proud to help create a platform that recognizes Hispanic excellence in football and encourages future generations to chase their dreams, knowing that their heritage is a strength and part of what makes the game so powerful.”

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According to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Ignacio “Lou” Molinet, a native of Chaparra, Cuba, was the first Latin American to play in the NFL. The halfback played for the 1927 Frankford Yellowjackets.

Since then, Latinos have made many contributions in football. Former Eagles running back Steve Van Buren, a Honduran American, was enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1965. He was the first Latino member of the Hall. 

Deserving candidates for Hispanic Football Hall of Fame

Former Rams receiver and coach Tom Fears, a Mexican American from Guadalajara, Mexico, was the first Latino head coach in NFL history. He was enshrined into the Pro Football Hall in 1970. The next year, Stanford Heisman Trophy winner Jim Plunkett became the first Latino picked first overall in the NFL Draft. 

Plunkett helped Tom Flores become the first Latino coach to win a Super Bowl in 1981. Despite Super Bowl rings as a player, assistant coach and head coach, Flores was made to wait until 2021 to earn his place among the football immortals in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.

Plunkett is still waiting for a call from Canton. He seems like a perfect candidate for the Hispanic Football Hall of Fame. That honor may help amplify his excellent qualifications. 

There are other affinity group football Hall of Fames, so this is important for the fastest growing ethnic group in America. Latino leaders in football had discussed the need for such a place to celebrate Latino contributions in football.

Nuñez raved about how quickly NFL Executive vice president of football operations Troy Vincent, Sr. embraced the idea. 

Impressive selection committee

“This is really overdue,” Nuñez said. “This one we kind of felt like it was really time and we really needed to honor people that needed to be honored.

“We have the backing of the NFL for it. We decided to start it. I chair the selection committee. Ron chairs the board. We hope to have our first class announced, I think, right before the Super Bowl and probably induct right around Cinco de Mayo. We have some really solid people on the selection committee.”

Highly respected football journalists Paul Gutierrez, Judy Battista, Rolando Cantú, Brandon Huffman, Moisés Linares, Alex Marvez, Armando Salguero and John Sutcliffe are part of the HFHOF selection committee. 

Multiple members of the HFHOF selection committee are selectors for the Pro Football Hall of Famers. 

“As honored as I am to serve on the selection committee, I am just as humbled,” Gutierrez said. “The Hispanic Football Hall of Fame will shine a deserving light on those who blazed trails, guys like Tom Flores, Anthony Muñoz and Jim Plunkett, while educating the masses with their oft-forgotten stories.

“I’ve voted for the Baseball Hall of Fame. And I am currently a selector for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, but this just hits different.”