The NFL world is still reeling from the snubs of Tom Flores and Cliff Branch from the Pro Football Hall of Fame Centennial slate. The special expanded class this year may well have been the best chance either of them have had or will have to get into the Hall of Fame.
Branch passed away last year, having waited 30 years to hear his name called. Flores is about to turn 83, having coached his last NFL game 26 years ago. And yet what seemed like an easy choice for the two who have 7 Super Bowl rings between them, was not to be.
Flores, in particular, was the head coach for two Raiders Super Bowls in the 80s. Branch was on both of those teams as well as the Raiders’ first Super Bowl team and retired as the all-time postseason leader in receptions (73) and receiving yards (1289). Yet, somehow Harold Carmichael got in over him.
Several of Flores’s players are in the Hall of Fame, including Howie Long. The legendary defensive end has had two sons play in the NFL. His son Chris played 11 seasons in the NFL, retiring following the 2018 season. He grew up with his dad telling him of the greatness of his former head coach and former game-changing receiver.
I really hope Tom Flores gets in soon. My pops always told me he’s a HOF. Him and Cliff Branch.
— Chris Long (@JOEL9ONE) January 16, 2020
Chris also had the honor of hoisting the Lombardi trophy twice, like his dad. In 2016 for the Patriots and 2017 for the Eagles.
Having Bill Cowher selected ahead of Flores is a slap in the face. Especially since Flores has been waiting 12 years longer. Cowher coached the Steelers for 15 seasons, managing one Super Bowl win in his 14th season on the job and a 12-9 record in the postseason. Two years after he was out, the Steelers won another one. Flores won two Super Bowls in nine seasons with the Raiders while his team won 72% of their games with an 8-3 postseason record.
If either Branch or Flores are to get in at any point, it will be via the senior committee. Branch’s induction would be posthumously, just as with Ken Stabler a couple years ago. Flores will hopefully be able to hold on, so he can take the stage if/when he gets the call. The hope here is that at very least, the expanded Centennial class will clear out the backlog enough to up Flores and Branch’s chances of being admitted by the Senior Committee.
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