LAS VEGAS, NV — The Hispanic Football Hall of Fame proudly announced today the selection of seven iconic figures as the inaugural inductees into its Class of 2026. The historic class will be honored during the Celebración de Fútbol on Cinco de Mayo, May 5, 2026, at the Las Vegas Raiders Headquarters in Henderson, Nevada.
The distinguished Class of 2026 is comprised of Tom Fears, Tom Flores, Ted Hendricks, Anthony Muñoz, Jim Plunkett, Ron Rivera, and Steve Van Buren.
These legendary players and coaches have made lasting contributions to the game of football while serving as trailblazers and role models within the Hispanic community. Their excellence on and off the field has helped shape the sport’s history and inspire future generations.
“The Hispanic Football Hall of Fame was created to recognize and celebrate the profound impact Hispanic athletes and leaders have had on the game of football,” said Sandy Nunez, Selection Committee Chairperson. “This inaugural class reflects excellence, lasting legacy, and a future where the next generation can see themselves at the highest levels of the sport.”
The inductees were selected by the Hispanic Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee, which includes: Sandy Nunez (Chairperson, Founding Board Member & Award-Winning Executive Producer), Judy Battista (NFL Senior National Columnist), Rolando Cantú (NFL Analyst, TNF En Español), Paul Gutierrez (Columnist for Raiders.com), Brandon Huffman (National Recruiting Editor, 247Sports), Moises Linares (Emmy Award-Winning Bilingual Sports Journalist), Alex Marvez (NFL Reporter, Pro Football Hall of Fame voter), Armando Salguero (OutKick Senior NFL Writer), and John Sutcliffe (ESPN Deportes Reporter).
Image Credit: Hispanic Football Hall of Fame
In addition to honoring the Class of 2026, the event will recognize the Pro Player of the Year Nik Bonitto, College Player of the Year Fernando Mendoza, High School Player of the Year Ryan Estrada, and other distinguished honorees.
The inaugural Celebración de Fútbol will bring together football greats, media, community leaders, and fans for an unforgettable evening celebrating Hispanic excellence.
Inductees
Tom Fears – Wide Receiver
Mexican ancestry
Position: Wide Receiver
NFL team: Los Angeles Rams (1948-56)
College: Santa Clara University, UCLA
- Pro Football Hall of Fame (Class of 1970)
- First Mexican‑born player inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame
- First-team selection on the NFL’s 1950 All-Decade team
- Caught the game-winning 73-yard touchdown pass in the Rams’ 1951 NFL Championship win over Cleveland
- Led the NFL in Receiving Yards (1949), Receptions (1950, 1951)
- Set NFL records for single-season catches in 1949 (77) and 1950 (84)
Steve Van Buren – Running Back
Honduran ancestry
Position: Running Back
NFL team: Philadelphia Eagles (1944-51)
College: Louisiana State University
- Pro Football Hall of Fame (Class of 1965)
- 2× NFL Champion – Philadelphia Eagles (1948, 1949)
- 5× First-Team All-Pro
- 4× NFL Rushing Leader
- Member of the NFL’s 75th and 100th anniversary teams as well as the 1940’s All-Decade team
- Retired as the NFL’s all-time leader for career rushing yards and touchdowns at the time; first player with two 1,000-yard seasons; still holds Philadelphia’s record for rushing touchdowns (69)
Tom Flores – Quarterback
Mexican ancestry
NFL teams (as player): Oakland Raiders (1960-61, 63-66), Buffalo Bills (1967-69), Kansas City Chiefs (1969)
NFL teams (as head coach): Oakland-Los Angeles Raiders (1979-87), Seattle Seahawks (1992-1994)
College: University of the Pacific
- Pro Football Hall of Fame (class of 2021)
- The first Hispanic starting QB in Pro Football History (Oakland in 1960)
- Passed for almost 12,000 yards with 93 TD passes in 106 career games (68 starts)
- 2× Super Bowl Champion Head Coach — Raiders (SB XV & XVIII)
- The NFL’s first Hispanic head coach and first to win a Super Bowl
- Led the Raiders to five playoff appearances overall & won 73 percent of his postseason games
- The NFL’s first Hispanic General Manager (Seattle 1992-94)
Jim Plunkett – Quarterback
Mexican ancestry
NFL teams: New England Patriots (1971-75), San Francisco 49ers (1976-77), Oakland-Los Angeles Raiders (1978-86)
College: Stanford University
- 2× Super Bowl Champion – Raiders (XV, XVIII)
- Super Bowl XV MVP
- NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year (1971)
- First overall pick in the 1971 NFL Draft
- NFL Comeback Player of the Year in 1980
Ron Rivera – Linebacker
Mexican and Puerto Rican ancestry
Position: Head Coach / Former Linebacker
NFL team: (as player): Chicago Bears (1984-92)
NFL team: (as head coach): Carolina Panthers (2011-19) & Washington (2020-23)
College: University of California-Berkeley
- Super Bowl XX Champion with the Bears (1985)
- Led Carolina to Super Bowl L and three NFC South titles
- Winningest head coach in Carolina history (76) AND Led Washington to the NFC East title in 2020
- Played as a linebacker in the NFL for 9 seasons (Bears 1984–92)
Anthony Muñoz – Offensive Tackle
Mexican ancestry
NFL team: Cincinnati Bengals (1980-92)
College: University of Southern California
- Pro Football Hall of Fame (Class of 1998)
- 11× Pro Bowl Selection
- 9× All-Pro
- Named to the NFL 1980s All-Decade Team
- Regarded as one of the greatest offensive linemen in NFL history
- Member of NFL’s 75th and 100th anniversary teams
Ted Hendricks – Linebacker
Guatemalan ancestry
NFL teams: Baltimore Colts (1969-73), Green Bay Packers (1974), Oakland-Los Angeles Raiders (1975-83)
College: University of Miami
- Pro Football Hall of Fame (Class of 1990)
- 4× Super Bowl Champion – (VI, XI, XV, XVIII)
- 8× Pro Bowl Selection
- 4× First-Team All-Pro
- Recorded 26 career interceptions and blocked an NFL-record 25 kicks
- Member of the NFL’s 75th and 100th anniversary teams as well as the 1970’s and 1980’s All-Decade teams
About the Hispanic Football Hall of Fame
The Hispanic Football Hall of Fame, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2025, was established to celebrate and honor the achievements of Hispanic players, coaches, and contributors in the sport of football. Its mission is to preserve history, showcase excellence, and inspire future generations by highlighting the cultural and athletic contributions of Hispanics to the game.
For more information, visit www.HispanicFootball.org. Follow the Hispanic Football Hall of Fame on Instagram (@HispanicFBHOF), X (@HispanicFB), and Facebook.
Information Courtesy of the Hispanic Football Hall of Fame
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