Super Bowl LVI will take place on Sunday, February 13, 2022, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. Although we don’t have any Latinx artists performing during the iconic halftime show this year, it doesn’t mean that Latinos haven’t made history and represented our culture in the sport.
According to a report by NBC News, over 25 million Latinx people living in the United States consider themselves NFL fans, despite the lack of Latinos playing in the field. Over the past two decades and a half, Latinx players have been increasing in high school and collegiate football; however, the publication assures that numbers are relatively small because of economic pressures and the lack of collegiate scouts looking for players in predominantly Latino areas.
Although Latino and Latina athletes in the United States of America are known for playing baseball and soccer or practicing boxing and gymnastics, the community knows there’s a world of possibilities in other disciples.
With the 56th Super Bowl and the 52nd modern-era National Football League championship coming around the corner, we wanted to enlist some of the Latino NFL players that proudly wore a helmet and their team’s jersey.
Ignacio Saturnino Molinet
Molinet was the first Cuban-American and Latin American to play professional American football. He played for the Frankford Yellow Jackets during the 1927 season. He rushed for 75 yards and passed for another 35. After playing in nine NFL games, Molinet went to New Jersey’s Cornell University, finished his degree, and lived far away from football. He died on August 27, 1976.
Joe Aguirre
Joseph Andrew Aguirre was born on October 17, 1918, in Wyoming. He was an American football end in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins, and the Los Angeles Dons of the All-America Football Conference. Aguirre also played in the Canadian Football League with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Edmonton Eskimos, and Saskatchewan Roughriders.
Eddie Saenz
Edwin Matthew Saenz was born on September 21, 1923, and received the nickname “tortilla” because of his Mexican American heritage. He was an American football running back for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League. He played college football at the University of Southern California. An injury forced Eddie to retire after five years with the Washington Redskins. He later worked as a stunt man and a double for Anthony Quinn. He died on April 28, 1971.
Steve Van Buren
Stephen Wood Van Buren was born on December 28, 1920. He was a Honduran–American professional football player for the Philadelphia Eagles from 1944 to 1951. He was known for being a powerful runner and winning four league-rushing titles. He was the first NFL player to rush for over ten touchdowns in a season and the first to have multiple 1,000-yard rushing seasons. He died on August 23, 2012.
Tom Fears
Thomas Jesse Fears was a Mexican-American professional football player for the Los Angeles Rams. he played as a split end from 1948 to 1956. Later, he was an NFL assistant coach and head coach of the New Orleans Saints. He is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Danny Villanueva
Daniel Dario Villanueva was born on November 5, 1937, in New Mexico. He was an American football professional for the Los Angeles Rams and the Dallas Cowboys. Villanueva, of Mexican American descent, played college football at New Mexico State University. He later became a news director and broadcasting executive and co-founded Univision. He died on June 18, 2015.
Gene Brito
Gene Herman Brito was born on November 23, 1925, to a Spanish-American father and Mexican-American mother. He was an American football defensive end in the National Football League who played nine seasons for the Washington Redskins and the Los Angeles Rams from 1951 to 1960.
Gabe Rivera
Adrian Gabriel Rivera, nicknamed “Señor Sack,” was an American college and professional football player for a single season in 1983 with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Rivera played college football for Texas Tech.
Efren Herrera
Efren Herrera was born on July 30, 1951. The Mexican-American placekicker played for the Dallas Cowboys, Seattle Seahawks, and Buffalo Bills. He played college football at the University of California, Los Angeles.
Luis Sharpe
Luis Ernesto Sharpe is a former professional American football tackle for St. Louis/Phoenix/Arizona Cardinals. He played from 1982 through 1994. Sharpe graduated from UCLA with a degree in political science.
Ralph Ortega
Ralph Ortega Ralph Ortega was born July 6, 1953, in Cuba. He is an American former college and professional football player for the Atlanta Falcons and Miami Dolphins of the NFL. Ortega played college football for the University of Florida and received All-American honors.
Tony Casillas
Tony Steven Casillas is a former American football defensive tackle. He helped the University of Oklahoma to win the 1985 NCAA National Championship. He also won the Lombardi Award in 1985 and was the 1985 UPI Lineman of the Year.
Tony Romo
Antonio Ramiro Romo is an analyst and former American football quarterback who played in the National Football League for 14 seasons with the Dallas Cowboys.
Tony Gonzalez
Anthony David Gonzalez is a former American football tight end who played for 17 seasons, primarily with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Joe Kapp
Joseph Robert Kapp is an American former football player, coach, and executive. He played college football as a quarterback at the University of California, Berkeley.
Anthony Muñoz
Michael Anthony Muñoz, is a former American football offensive tackle for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League. Muñoz is considered to be one of the greatest offensive linemen in NFL history.
Louis Vasquez
Louis Nicholas Vasquez is a former American football guard for the Denver Broncos. He played college football at Texas Tech.
Jim Plunkett
James William Plunkett is a former American football quarterback for the Raiders. He helped win two Super Bowl titles.
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