head coach of the Milan franchise in the fledgling International League of American Football. Four years later, he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, spending the final six years of his life battling the disease. Fears was the first Mexico-born NFL player inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. References McDowell, Markus (2002). "Fears, Thomas Jesse ('Tom')." Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives, Thematic Series: Sports Figures. Charles Scribner's Sons. Retrieved January 7, 2013 from HighBeam Research External links 1922 births 2000 deaths American football wide receivers Mexican people of American descent American sports announcers Atlanta Falcons coaches College Football Hall of Fame inductees Green Bay Packers coaches Los Angeles Rams coaches Los Angeles Rams players Mexican emigrants to the United States Mexican players of American football American sportspeople of Mexican descent New Orleans Saints coaches Sportspeople from Guadalajara, Jalisco Sportspeople from Riverside County, California People from Palm Desert, California Military personnel from California Philadelphia Eagles coaches Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees UCLA Bruins football players Western Conference Pro Bowl players Southern California Sun coaches Players of American football from California United States Army Air Forces pilots of World War II San Bernardino Valley College alumni Santa Clara University alumni New Orleans Saints head coaches