Tom Flores: Difference between revisions

Flores played quarterback for two seasons at [[Fresno City College]], beginning in 1955. He was active off the field too, serving on the Student Council and as President of the Associated Men's Students. He received an academic scholarship to study at the College of the Pacific—now known as the [[University of the Pacific (United States)|University of the Pacific]]—from which he graduated in 1958. Flores came to Pacific from Fresno City College and started for the Tigers as quarterback.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Pacific alumnus adds title of Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee to trailblazing career|url=https://www.pacific.edu/pacific-newsroom/pacific-alumnus-adds-title-pro-football-hall-fame-inductee-trailblazing-career|access-date=2021-08-16|website=www.pacific.edu|language=en}}</ref> Following his playing career with the Tigers, he was hired as an assistant coach at Pacific and worked toward his master's degree.

 

 

Flores had his most productive season in 1966, passing for 2,638 yards and 24 touchdowns in 14 games. Oakland traded him to the [[Buffalo Bills]] in 1967. After serving as [[Jack Kemp]]'s backup that year, he had a chance to be the Bills' starter when Kemp suffered a season-ending injury during training camp. However, Flores hurt his shoulder before the first game, and his season was limited to a five-pass appearance in Week 6. After another five-pass appearance in the first game of 1969, the Bills released Flores and he signed with the [[Kansas City Chiefs]]. There he was third-string quarterback behind fellow Hall of Famer [[Len Dawson]] and [[Mike Livingston]] on the Chiefs' Super Bowl Championship team. He officially retired as a player after not playing a single game in the 1970 season. He was one of only twenty players who were in the AFL for its entire ten-year existence. He is the fifth-leading passer in the AFL's history.