Before Tom Fears was selected as the NFL’s newest expansion team he enjoyed a Canton-worthy career with the Los Angeles Rams in the 1950s. Along with fellow Hall of Famers Norm Van Brocklin at quarterback, Ollie Matson at halfback and Elroy “Crazy Legs” Hirsch at the other receiver spot the Rams had one of NFL’s All-Time powerhouse offenses. Tom Fears himself set records for most catches in a season and most catches in a game – the latter stood for 50 years before it was broken.

Following his playing days he was on the coaching staffs of the Packers, Rams and Falcons before he was named head coach of New Orleans Saints. He remained with the Saints until mid-way through the 1970 season when he was replaced by J.D. Roberts. His overall record was 13 victories, 34 losses and 2 ties. In actuality his record was not as bad as it seems. Expansion teams of that era started off with just an extra draft pick and they choice of the rest of the league’s cast-offs. The 12 victories of the Saints first three seasons matched or exceeded any other expansion team’s efforts up to that time including the Cowboys and Vikings. He was chosen as the East Squad’s coach in the 1970 Pro Bowl. That same year he was inducted into the Hall of Fame.

After a brief tenure in the World Football League he began an NFL scouting service and was also offering technical advice to the entertainment industry for pro-football related movies. When he offered consultation for the production of North Dallas Forty, a movie based on a novel by former Cowboys receiver Peter Gent that cast professional football in most negative light, his company suffered as he claims the NFL black-balled him from any future work.

He passed away in 2000 at the age of 77.