About that Tom Flores Coors Light commercial

Football fans across the country received a fun and meaningful message this weekend about Tom Flores’ push for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Coors Light began a TV ad campaign for the former Raiders’ coach and the spots aired throughout the NFL Super Wild Card Weekend and will continue to run through the postseason.

Here is the whimsical ad:

The legendary coach was gracious enough to talk to Silver and Black Pride about the making of the commercial and its meaning.

Flores — a two-time Super Bowl-winning head coach and the first Latino to win a championship ring as a player, assistant coach and head coach — is a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The vote will be Feb. 6. It’s been widely considered ridiculous in NFL circles that Flores, 83, is still waiting to get into the Canton, Ohio, museum.

Flores said some friends thought of a commercial push for the HOF and Coors Light was interested and came up with the can idea.

“I think it came out well,” Flores said. “It does send a message, but it is not overbearing. I’ve heard good things from people who have seen it.”

One thing would have made the spot perfect for Flores. His own grandson, Brian, couldn’t make the taping because of the coronavirus pandemic and the role was played by an extra on the set, Flores said.

Flores said he did do a few commercials in his career. He offered that he had a lot of opportunities when the team moved to Los Angeles in 1982, but Raiders owner Al Davis didn’t want to Flores to do any ads.

As this Coors Light commercial shines light on his HOF nomination, Flores said he is excited, but not yet nervous. He said he will likely get nervous on the day of the vote.

“I’m trying to enjoy it,” Flores said. “The commercial helps make it fun.”

For all of us, coach.