By Matthew Aguilar

Special to the Times

The Oakland Raiders made the playoffs in 1980 but, at 11-5, no one expected much from the Silver and Black.

They had lost their starting quarterback, Dan Pastorini, earlier in the season to a broken leg. And no one thought much of backup Jim Plunkett, a former #1 draft pick for the New England Patriots who was considered a bust.

But, then, the Raiders caught fire. They won three playoff games on the road, and completed the Cinderella season with an unlikely thumping of the Eagles in Super Bowl XV.

Their leader, the stoic Tom Flores, was the first head coach to take a Wild Card team to the promised land. He won the Raiders another Lombardi Trophy three years later — one more than legendary Raiders coach John Madden. And Flores is the first minority head coach to ever win the Super Bowl. Yet, as seven players are inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame this weekend in Canton, Ohio, Flores is still waiting for the call.

The Iceman

Consider: Flores is the first Hispanic head coach to have won the Super Bowl. He is the first Hispanic starting quarterback in pro football history, as he got the nod for the fledgling Raiders in 1960. He and Mike Ditka are the only two players to have won a championship as a player, an assistant coach and a head coach. And he is one of only 20 players who were in the American Football League for its entire 10-year existence.

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It was Flores' steady coaching hand in 1980-81 that melded free spirits like Ted Hendricks, rookie Matt Millen and Mr. Stick ‘Um defensive back Lester Hayes (13 interceptions) with veterans like Gene Upshaw, Art Shell, John Matuszak and Ray Guy.

And it’s no wonder.

In his quarterbacking days, Flores, a native of Fresno, was known as the “Iceman” for his poise under pressure. He played for the Bills and the Chiefs before becoming a coach. He was an assistant under Madden when the Raiders won their first Super Bowl in 1977. When Madden retired two years later, owner Al Davis picked Flores as his new head coach. It was a move that paid dividends almost immediately.

After the Raiders struggled with Pastorini, starting the 1980 season 2-3, the supposedly washed-up Plunkett entered the picture and won the Raiders six straight games for a surprising second place in the AFC West.

AFC power Houston was first up in the playoffs, and the Raiders blitzed the Oilers 27-7 in the AFC Wild Card Game. Then they edged the Browns 14-12 in the divisional round. And later defeated the Chargers 34-27 in the AFC championship. All on the road.

And though the Eagles were only a three-point favorite in Super Bowl XV, most expected the Dick Vermeil-led powerhouse to end the fairy tale. Instead, the Raiders dominated, 27-10. Plunkett, supposedly a bust, was the MVP.

The Raiders repeated in 1983, stunning the Redskins 38-9 in Super Bowl XVIII. The iconic image of linebacker Jack Squirek picking off Joe Theismann for a 5-yard touchdown and Marcus Allen zig-zagging his way to paydirt continue to resonate.

The Raiders 29-point margin of victory remains the most points scored by an AFC team in Super Bowl history.

Make no mistake: in the early 1980s, the Raiders were a power. And Flores was the captain of the ship.

Running out of time

As the years roll by, it becomes more and more difficult to articulate the case for Flores, who is now 80 years old and a radio analyst for the Raiders. People forget the ultra-calm, almost bored, demeanor. The business-like conversations with Plunkett. The folded arms. The black sweaters.

Even in victory, Tom Flores was understated. There was an air of dignity to him. An autumn wind maybe. He was a winner.

Tom Flores deserves to be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. If for no other reason, he succeeded despite being supervised by Al Davis.

It should happen in 2018.

Signed,

A Charger fan.

Matthew Aguilar may be reached at maguilarnew@yahoo.com; @MatthewAguilar5 on Twitter