Tom Fears

Full Name: Thomas Jesse Fears

Birthdate: December 3, 1922

Birthplace: Guadalajara, Mexico

Died: January 4, 2000

High School: Manual Arts (Los Angeles, CA)

Elected to Pro Football Hall of Fame: January 12, 1970

Enshrined into Pro Football Hall of Fame: August 8, 1970

Presenter: Harold "Hal" Dean, former Rams teammate

Other Members of Class of 1970: Jack Christiansen, Hugh McElhenny, Pete Pihos

Pro Career: 9 seasons, 87 games

Drafted: 11th round (41st overall) by Philadelphia Eagles

Uniform Number: 80 (55)

Tom Fears Enshrinement Speech 1970

Presenter: Hal Dean

Thank you guess, friends with the football Hall of Fame. Tom fears with the Los Angeles Rams, now head coach for the New Orleans Saints, has been selected to be enshrined in this eighth annual Hall of Fame ceremonies. This distinct honor comes to Tom after being associated with professional football for 9 years as a player, for Seven years as an assistant coach, and is now starting his fourth year as the head coach of the New Orleans Saints. There is no doubt in my mind that Tom has dedicated his full life to professional football and there's no doubt in my mind that Tom's Association with professional football is at a midpoint and his contributions to the technical aspects of the game and the leadership on the playing field will continue in the years to come. The career of Tom has been one challenge, adversity and doubt and finally coming through in triumph. The challenge to Tom came as a rookie player for the Rams in 1948. He reported to the Rams after the college All-Star game where he represented his school, UCLA. His best prospects for making the team seem to be as a defensive to become a pass catcher. After a struggling start, learning the intricate pass patterns designed by coach Clark Shanassey. By midseason, Tom had won a starting position in his rookie year. He led the NFL in pass receptions in his rookie year of 1948 and continued in 1949 and 1950. During his career he set records not only for most passes received per season, most passes caught per game, and most long gainers in a single season. But the real statistic of Tom which got him in the Hall of Fame should be under these categories: First, the most passes caught on a third down-six yard to go situation. Second, the most passes caught in the final five minutes of a game keeping the winning drives going and third, the most long touchdown passes caught in the key championship games that the Rams played against the Chicago Bears and the Cleveland Browns. At this time, I want to present my good friend, Mr. Tom fears.

Tom Fears

Thank you, Hal, fellow Enshrinees Commissioner Rozelle, and honored guests.  I am very happy, extremely happy, I am also very nervous. I think I'm the first coach that's enshrined when he has a team to field out there in another hour and a half. I'm certainly honored. I'm honored to be enshrined with people like Christiansen, Pihos, McElhenny and all the ones who have preceded them. People who I've looked up to all my life, so I am certainly in find company. Proud, I'm very proud to be here, I am proud mostly for the people that are mostly responsible for me being here, my father and mother, who are deceased, and also my high school coach, Jim Bluet, one of my college coaches, Lin Casanova, and my head buckshaw, I went into the service and I came back, played for Burtler Busher at UCLA and I had fine coaching in the pro ranks as Hal mentioned Clark Shanassey, who has just recently passed away, and also another former enshrinee, Joe Stydahar. They’ve been a great help to me and without them I wouldn't be here. I want to thank the newspaper writers out of the 26 cities who voted on the players and felt that I should be honored here. I want to thank the good people of Canton and I hope we give you a real good game here this afternoon. Thank you very much.