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Pioneers, Milestones and Firsts
By Mario Longoria Special to Profootballhof.com
In 2000, Heidi Cadwell contacted the Pro Football Hall of Fame about donating her grandfather's NFL contract from 1927. Her call was of great interest to the Hall because at the time it was widely believed that Jesse Rodriguez, a fullback-punter with the 1929 Buffalo Bisons, was the first Hispanic player in NFL history.
Further research by the Hall of Fame and Hispanic historian Mario Longoria confirmed that, in fact, Ignacio "Lou" Molinet played in the NFL in 1927. Molinet, a native of Chaparra, Cuba, played nine games for the Frankford Yellowjackets that season.
Ignacio Saturnino "Lou" Molinet, Halfback, Cornell University, 1927 Frankford Yellowjackets
Jesse Rodriguez, Fullback/Punter, Salem College 1929 Buffalo Bisons
Kelly Rodriguez, Halfback, West Virginia Wesleyan College 1930-31 Frankford Yellowjackets/Minneapolis Red Jackets
Waldo Don Carlos, Center, Drake University Played 1931 Green Bay Packers
Joe Aguirre, End, St. Mary's College of California 1941, 1943-45 Washington Redskins, 1946-49 Los Angeles Dons of the All-America Football Conference (AAFC) Steve Van Buren, Running Back, Louisiana State 1944-1951 Philadelphia Eagles
Peter Perez, Guard, University of Illinois 1945 Chicago Bears
Eddie Saenz, Halfback, USC 1946-1951 Washington Redskins
John Sanchez, Tackle, University of San Francisco 1947 Detroit Lions, 1947-49 Washington Redskins, 1949-1950 New York Giants
Gonzalo Morales, Halfback, St. Mary's College of California Played 1947-48 Pittsburgh Steelers Tom Fears, End, UCLA 1948-1956 Los Angeles Rams
Daniel Garza, End, University of Oregon 1949 New York Yankees (AAFC), 1950 New York Yanks Ebert Van Buren, Linebacker/Fullback, Louisiana State 1951-53 Philadelphia Eagles
Ray Romero, Guard, Kansas State University 1951 Philadelphia Eagles
Joe Arenas, Halfback, University of Omaha-Nebraska 1951-57 San Francisco 49ers
Genaro "Gene" Brito, End, Loyola University 1951-53, 1955-58 Washington Redskins, 1959-1960 Los Angeles Rams
George Maderos, Defensive Back, Chico State University 1955-56 San Francisco 49ers
Ricardo Jose "Rick" Casares, Fullback, University of Florida Played 1955-1964 Chicago Bears, 1965 Washington Redskins, 1966 Miami Dolphins
Alex Bravo, Defensive Back, California Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo 1957-58 Los Angeles Rams, 1960-61 Oakland Raiders
First Hispanic American Drafted by a NFL Club: Joe Aguirre, End (St. Mary's College of California) Picked by the Washington Redskins in the ninth round of the 1941 draft.
First Hispanic American Quarterback in the NFL: Tom Flores (Pacific), Oakland Raiders (AFL) 1960
First Hispanic American to Win All-League Honors: Joe Aguirre, End (St. Mary's College of California), Washington Redskins, 1943
First Hispanic American to Win Individual League Statistical Championship: Steve Van Buren, Running Back (LSU), Philadelphia Eagles 1944 (punt retun yardage)
First Hispanic American Elected to Pro Football Hall of Fame: Steve Van Buren, Running Back (LSU), Philadelphia Eagles 1944-1951, elected 1968
First Hispanic American Selected First Overall in the NFL Draft: Jim Plunkett, Quarterback (Stanford), New England Patriots 1971.
First Hispanic American Head Coaches: Tom Fears, 1967-70 New Orleans Saints and 1974-75 Southern California Sun (WFL); Tom Flores, 1979-1988 Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders, and 1992-94 Seattle Seahawks.
First Hispanic American Assistant Coaches: Steve Van Buren, 1952 Philadelphia Eagles; Tom Fears, 1959, 1962-64 Green Bay Packers, 1960-61 Los Angeles Rams, 1965 Atlanta Falcons; Tom Flores, 1971 Buffalo Bills, 1972-78 Oakland Raiders. Pete Rodriguez, 1983-84 Michigan Panthers (USFL), 1985 Denver Gold (USFL), 1986 Jacksonville Bulls (USFL), 1987 Ottawa Rough Riders (CFL), 1988-89 Los Angeles Raiders, 1990-93 Phoenix Cardinals, 1994-97 Washington Redskins, 1998-2001 Seattle Seahawks.