Tom Fears

Thomas Jesse Fears (born December 3, 1922, in Guadalajara, Mexico, died January 4, 2000) was an American football wide receiver for the Los Angeles Rams in the National Football League, playing nine seasons from 1948 to 1956. He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1970

Fears first played football for Santa Clara University but he was drafted for World War II where he spent three years in military service. Fears then played two seasons with UCLA where he was elected All-American twice.

Fears was drafted as a defensive back but played as wide receiver for the Rams. He was a versatile player and also played tight end and defense. In his first three seasons he led all receivers in catches and broke the single season league record with seventy-seven catches in 1949. This record was short lived as he increased that mark to eighty-four catches the following year. This included catching a then-record eighteen passes in a game against the Green Bay Packers and catching all three touchdowns in the division title game against the Chicago Bears. Fears was also well known for catching a seventy-three yard pass to help his team win the 1951 NFL title.

After Fears retired he became a television announcer and for four years the head coach for the New Orleans Saints, leading them with a 13-34-2 record between 1967-1970.

Fears was an All-NFL for both his record seasons in 1949 and 1950. He finished his career with 400 catches for 5,397 yards and 38 touchdowns.