Born in Guadalajara, Mexico he was was drafted by the Army Corps of Engineers and served as a flight instructor during World War II. An All-American at UCLA he was an 11th round draft pick of the Cleveland Rams (they moved to Los Angeles soon after) in 1945. Finishing his schooling he joined the Rams in 1948 and quickly emerged as one of the NFL's top receivers when he led the league with 51 catches. The following season he not only lead the league again but set a new NFL record with 77 catches. In 1950 he made the All Pro team, leading the NFL a third straight year while breaking his previous mark an establishing another Pro Football record of 84 catches. Named to the Hall of Fame in 1970.
Named to the NFL 1950s Al-Decade Team he lead the NFL in receiving 3 straight seasons setting new records twice. Set the record for Most Catches in a Game in 1950 when he had 18 catches against Green Bay. That record stood until the 2000 season. In the 1950 Divisional Playoff Round against the Chicago Bears he caught 7 passes for 198 yards and 3 touchdowns. The next week in the Championship game loss to the Cleveland Browns he had 9 catches for 136 yards.
Originally assigned as a Defensive Back when he left UCLA in 1947 the Rams coaching staff felt his ball-hawking skills were used at the receiving position. It turned out to be a wise decision as the led the NFL in receptions his first 3 years in the league. To this day, over 50 years later, he still ranks #6 on the All-Time Rams Career Catches (400) and Yards (5397) and #7 on All-Time Touchdown Catches (38).
2 Hall of Fame receivers from the high-powered offense that was the early 1950s Rams. Both members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame 1950s All-Decade Team.
1950 NFL action between the Bears and Rams - Tom Fears, All-Pro receiver for Los Angeles makes a catch against Bears legend George McAfee. In 1950 Fears led the NFL with a then record of 84 catches and 1116 yards.
Quarterback Billy Kilmer and Head Coach Tom Fears of the New Orleans Saints. Both joined the expansion Saints in 1967 and by the start of the 1971 season both were gone.
