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How many Mexicans have played in the NFL and who has won a Super Bowl? – The financial

Throughout the more than 100-year history of the National Football League (NFL), several Mexican players have passed through the most important American football league thanks to the proximity between Mexico and the United States and the popularity of this North American sport in Aztec soil.

Several Mexicans have had the opportunity to study at US universities and be selected to play in the NFL, as well as play in a Super Bowl, although only a couple can boast a championship ring and have lifted the Vince Lombardi Trophy.

More than a dozen Mexicans have gone through the NFL

There are more than 10 Mexicans who have played in the NFL and many others who have not been fortunate enough to step on the gridiron in official matches, but at least have participated in practice teams or have been on trial.

  • Tom Fears: He was born in Guadalajara, Jalisco and was the first Mexican in the NFL. He played for the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) and the Rams recruited him in the 1948 Draft, with which he played nine seasons. He entered the Hall of Fame in 1970.
  • Alex Esquivel: He studied at the Universidad de Las América and is the only player recruited by the NFL from a school in Mexico; the Baltimore Colts drafted him in 1955.
  • Efren Herrera: Played in the 1970s for the Detroit Lions, Dallas Cowboys, Seattle Seahawks and Buffalo Bills.
  • Joseph Raphael Septien: The New Orleans Saints bet on him in the tenth round of the 1977 Draft, but they transferred him to the Rams that same year. He also played for the Dallas Cowboys from 1978 to 1986.
  • Frank Corral: The Chihuahuan kicker played at UCLA. In 1978, the Los Angeles Rams selected him in the third round of the Draft, with whom he played until 1981. He then moved to the United States Football League (USFL).
  • Raul Allegre: Played kicker for the Baltimore and Indianapolis Colts in 1983 and for the New York Giants. He retired from the NFL with the New York Jets.
  • Jose Portilla: He was not taken in the NFL Draft, but the Atlanta Falcons offered him a chance to join the team and he played with them in 1998 and 1999.
  • Rolando Cantu: He was an offensive lineman for the Arizona Cardinals in 2005 and 2006. He is the only Mexican who played a regular season without having studied at an American university (he graduated from Tec de Monterrey).
  • Joaquin Zendejas: The kicker was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in 1983. That same year he went to the New England Patriots and played two games.
  • Tony Zendejas: Played for the Houston Oilers, Atlanta Falcons, Los Angeles Rams, and San Francisco 49ers.
  • Max Zendejas: He was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the 1986 Draft, but made his debut with the Washington Red Skins; he also played for the Green Bay Packers.
  • Luis Zendejas: He was a player for the Dallas Cowbows (1987 and 1989) and the Philadelphia Eagles (1988).
  • Marcos Matos: Didn’t play in the NFL, but tried out with the Denver Broncos, Dallas Cowboys and Carolina Panthers.
  • Carlos Rosado: He also tried his hand at the New York Jets, but it didn’t stick. He participated in the NFL Europe.
  • Isaac Alarcon: Since 2019, he has been part of the Dallas Cowboys practice squad.
  • alfredo gutierrez: He is an offensive lineman on the practice squad for the San Francisco 49ers.

Mexicans who have played a Super Bowl

Since the NFL Super Bowl was created in the mid-1960s, four Mexican players have played in the final, but only two have had the opportunity to lift the Vince Lombardi trophy and one of them did so in a couple of occasions.

Efren Herrera

At the age of 26, he became the first Mexican NFL champion by winning Super Bowl XII, in 1974, with the Dallas Cowboys. His team beat the Denver Broncos 27-10.

The kicker born in Guadalajara, Jalisco collaborated in the final with two field goals and three extra points. He was also part of the All Pro team in 1977 and played in the 1978 Pro Bowl.

After winning the Super Bowl he went to the Seattle Seahawks, with whom he played for four seasons. He retired with the Buffalo Bills in 1982.

Raul Allegre

The kicker from Torreón, Coahuila studied at the university in Houston, Texas. In 1983 he was signed by the Dallas Cowboys, but was traded to the Baltimore Colts. Three seasons later he moved to the New York Giants, with whom he won two Super Bowls.

In 1987, Allegre and the Giants won Super Bowl XXI against the Denver Broncos with a score of 39-20 and a field goal from the Mexican. That was the first Vince Lombardi Trophy for the player and his team.

The second championship for both came four years later in Super Bowl XXV, which they won 20-19 against the Buffalo Bills with a pair of field goals by Raúl Allegre. He retired with the NY Jets in 1991 and became a sportscaster for ESPN.

Rafael Septien

The other two Mexicans who played in a Super Bowl were Rafael Septién and Frank Corral. In the XIII edition, Septién connected a 27-yard field goal and four extra points, but they were not enough for the Dallas Cowboys, who lost 35-31 against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Frank Corral

The following year, Corral was part of the Rams who also lost Super Bowl XIV to Pittsburgh by a score of 31-19. The Mexican kicker had two field goals and an extra point, but also missed another attempt that would have put his team ahead. The Rams fired him in 1982 and he continued his career in the USFL.

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