Super Bowl Flashback: 5 Greatest Super Bowl Moments by Latino Football Players [Watch]
The Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots will face off in this year's Super Bowl. Multiple NFL Championship games have highlighted Hispanic football players on the biggest stage. Latin Post takes a look at NFL history, and five of the most memorable moments in championship games by Latinos.
1. Tom Fears
Just before there was the Super Bowl we know today, the NFL Championship game decided the winner. Easily one of the most underrated players in NFL history was receiver Tom Fears. Fears played his entire career with the Los Angeles Rams from 1948 to 1956. In the 1950 Championship game, Fears racked up nine catches for 136 receiving yards but lost to the Cleveland Browns, 30-28.
The very next year the Rams and Fears would get a chance at redemption. They took on the Browns and Otto Graham in a rematch for the ages. With the score tied 17-17 in the final quarter, Fears caught a game-winning 73-yard touchdown catch (watch below) from Norm Van Brocklin to seal the deal.
2. Raul Allegre
He didn't have the most powerful leg, but Raul Allegre did help the New York Giants win a Super Bowl with clutch kicking. Playing soccer at a young age in Mexico, Allegre soon transitioned his game to American-style football, where he flourished. Although undrafted, Allegre proved the doubters wrong by scoring seven points in the 1987 Super Bowl against John Elway and the Denver Broncos. Allegre never missed a field goal in his postseason career.
3. Martín Gramática
Latin American-born football players have done very well in the NFL as kickers. One of the best kickers of all-time is Argentina's own Martín Gramática.
Gramática had a tremendous 2002 season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers leading the entire league in field goals made. Gramática saved his best game for the biggest moment: the 2003 Super Bowl against the Oakland Raiders. In that game, Gramática was a perfect 8 for 8 kicking, including two fields and six extra points accounting for 12 points.
4. Ted Hendricks
Ted Hendricks won a few Super Bowls, four to be exact. The linebacker from Guatemala never lost in the big game winning one Super Bowl with the Baltimore Colts and another three with the Raiders.
He is easily considered one of the best linebackers of his generation, and he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1990. A Hendricks-led defense never allowed more than two touchdowns in the Super Bowl.
5. Victor Cruz
One of the best wide receivers in recent years. The young Puerto Rican wide out had an incredible 2011 season setting a New York Giants franchise record 1,536 receiving yards, including a 99-yard touchdown. Thus, the salsa dance was introduced to the NFL.
Cruz ended that memorable season on a high note. In the 2012 super Bowl, against the New England Patriots, Cruz caught a touchdown pass from Eli Manning. Cruz drew constant double teams in that game, which opened up things for Mario Manningham and Hakeem Nicks.
Follow Damon Salvadore on Twitter
FOR MORE SPORTS NEWS AND UPDATES, CLICK ON THIS LINK TO VISIT LATIN POST.COM'S SPORTS PAGE
Subscribe to Latin Post!
Sign up for our free newsletter for the Latest coverage!