The NFL Dream is Alive in Harlingen
(This article was written by Roel Rodriguez and was featured in the October 2025 issue of Explore Harlingen Magazine . ) The 2025 NFL season has begun, with all 32 teams aiming to become the 2026 Super Bowl Champions. For the winners it will be a dream come true, and for their fans, it will give them a year of bragging rights. As I reflected on the start of the 2025 NFL season, I wondered if my beloved Dallas Cowboys would ever make it back to the Super Bowl again. I, also, reflected on how special it must be to make it to the NFL as a player. Playing in the NFL must be the ultimate achievement for anyone who loves American football. For those athletes, who have the God-given talent to make it in the NFL, this achievement must be a dream come true. As a Harlingen resident, I know that we have had some Harlingen Cardinals experience the NFL dream and I began to wonder how many players from the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) have played in the NFL. I did some internet research and discovered that the Greater Harlingen area seems to have produced the most NFL players in the RGV. The McAllen area and Weslaco have had two (2) NFL players each while Brownsville has had one (1) NFL player; however, our beautiful Harlingen community and its surrounding area have produced a whopping seven (7) NFL players. Although all the RGV football players who have made it to the NFL make us proud, this article focuses on the seven (7) amazing individuals from the Harlingen area who made it to the NFL. Photo courtesy of RGV Sports Hall of Fame Jim Hudson (La Feria) The most senior NFL player from the Harlingen area is La Feria Lion, Jim Hudson. Jim excelled at multiple sports in high school and was the Class 2A State Discus Champion, but it was his versatility to play multiple positions on the gridiron that earned him a roster spot with the University of Texas Longhorns in the early 1960s. Jim’s ability to play multiple positions, especially on defense, helped contribute to the Texas Longhorns football team success culminating with a win the 1963 National Championship game against Navy. Jim went on to play for six seasons with the New York Jets winning a Super Bowl Championship in 1969 when the New York Jets, with Quarterback Joe Namath, beat the heavily favored Baltimore Colts. Jim’s career is extremely impressive and unique. Not too many athletes can say that they won championships at the state, college, and professional levels but, La Feria Lion Jim Hudson can. After retiring from football, Jim and his business partner operated a very successful real estate firm in Austin, Texas. Photo courtesy of Getty Images Dale Hellestrae (Harlingen) The next NFL player from our area is Dale Hellestrae who played only one year of football at the Marine Military Academy (MMA) in 1983. After dominating at MMA, Dale earned a football scholarship to play at Southern Methodist University (SMU). Dale was a two-year starter at SMU as an offensive tackle and earned All Southwest Conference honors. Dale was selected by the Buffalo Bills in the 12 th round of the 1985 NFL draft. After three (3) seasons with the Buffalo Bills, Dale played one season with the Los Angeles Raiders before being traded to the Dallas Cowboys in 1990. Dale spent 11 seasons with the Dallas Cowboys excelling as the Cowboys special team’s long snapper and played in 176 consecutive games. Dale became one of the best long snappers in the NFL and in Dallas Cowboys’ history. Dale was a pivotal member of his team and helped the Dallas Cowboys win three (3) Super Bowl Championships in the 1990s. Dale completed his career in 2002 after one season with the Baltimore Ravens. Dale continues his involvement with football as an analyst on professional and NCAA football games for college football on Versus and serves as a co-host of the weekly “Jacob and Helly in the Morning” on AM & FM radio in the Arizona area. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia. Roberto Garza (Rio Hondo) Another great NFL player from our area is Rio Hondo Bobcat Roberto Garza. After a successful high school career competing in football and track and field, Roberto chose to walk on at Texas A&M Kingsville. Roberto not only made the Javelina football team, but he had a very successful four-year football career at Texas A&M Kingsville as an offensive lineman. In 2001, Roberto was selected by the Atlanta Falcons as the 99 th overall pick in the 4 th round of the NFL draft. Roberto spent five seasons with the Atlanta Falcons and then signed to play for the Chicago Bears in 2005. Roberto spent 10 seasons with the Chicago Bears enjoying a trip to the Super Bowl XLI Championship game in 2006 against the Indianapolis Colts. Although the team came up short against the Colts in the Super Bowl, the Chicago Bears were the NFC Champions for that season. In 2006, Roberto was one of only 19 Hispanic players in the NFL among the 1,700 NFL players. Roberto retired from the NFL 2014 and enjoyed a very successful broadcasting career with ESPN Deportes after retirement. Photo courtesy of Google Jimmy Lawrence (Harlingen) The first Harlingen High football player to make it to the NFL was Jimmy Lawrence. Jimmy excelled as a running back for the Big Red Machine and led the Cardinals to three (3) playoff appearances. Jimmy’s talent earned him an opportunity to play football at Texas Christian University (TCU). While at TCU, Jimmy made the All-Southwest Conference team three times and was a member of the TCU football team that won the 1935 National Title and is also a member of the TCU Sports Hall of Fame. Jimmy was selected in the 1936 NFL draft. The Chicago Cardinals selected Jimmy in the 1 st round as the 5 th overall pick. Jimmy’s talent allowed him to play four (4) NFL seasons for the Chicago Cardinals and Green Bay Packers in the late 1930s. In 1939, the Chicago Cardinals traded Jimmy to the Green Bay Packers, and he was a member of the 1939 NFL Champion Green Bay Packers team. After retiring from football, Jimmy enjoyed a successful career as a leading football official in the RGV. Photo courtesy of eBay Sammy Garza (Harlingen) The next Harlingen High football player to make it to the NFL was Sammy Garza. Sammy was a successful multi-sport athlete at Harlingen High in the early 1980s. Sammy is best known for being a great Quarterback (QB) as a passer who led the Cardinals to a 30-10 record during his high school career. Sammy’s exploits earned him a scholarship to the University of Texas – El Paso (UTEP) where he was named the starting QB for the Miners as a freshman. Sammy completed his college career as one of the most prolific passers in UTEP history, ranking first in pass completions and completion percentage and ranking second in passing attempts, yards, and in touchdown passes. In 1987, Sammy was selected by the Seattle Seahawks in the 8 th round (216 th overall) in the NFL draft as an offseason/practice squad player. Sammy was waived by the Seattle Seahawks in September 1987 but, due to the NFL Players Association strike, the NFL chose to continue the season with replacement players. Sammy was signed as QB by the St. Louis Cardinals replacement team. Sammy started one (1) NFL game as a QB for the St. Louis Cardinals during the 1987 season and remained on the roster as a backup QB. Sammy was waived by the St. Louis Cardinals the following season, but he continued his professional football career in the Canadian Football League (CFL). Sammy’s CFL career entailed time with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers from 1989-1991 and 1992-1995. Sammy was drafted and played for the Frankfurt Galaxy of the World League of American Football in 1991. He closed out his professional football career as a member of the Ottawa Rough Riders of the CFL in 1995. In 1993, Sammy led the Winnipeg Blue Bombers to victory in the Eastern Finals over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, earning Sammy and his team an opportunity to play in the Grey Cup (the CFL’s equivalent of a Super Bowl and Canada’s largest annual sports and television event). In the 1993 Grey Cup game, Sammy scored a rushing touchdown against Edmonton Eskimos who won the game 33-23. Sammy then began a successful career as a football coach starting with UTEP from 1996-1997 and 2000-2023 and with the Saskatchewan Roughriders from 1998-1999 and in 2004. Sammy has served as a wide receiver, running backs, and QB coach. In 2005, Sammy was hired as a professional scout by the Dallas Cowboys in their College Scouting Department. Sammy served as the southwest area scout from 2008-2009 and the west coast scout from 2010-2011 and back to southwest area scout in 2012. Sammy continues his passion for football and is still involved in the sport. He continues to work for the Dallas Cowboys and is involved in all scouting aspects for the five (5)-time World Champions. Photo courtesy of RGV Sports Hall of Fame Johnnie Jackson (Harlingen) Our next Harlingen High player to make it to the NFL is Johnnie Jackson. Johnnie was a phenomenal Cardinal athlete from 1981-1985 and played QB for the football team. Johnnie accepted an offer to play football for the University of Houston Cougars football team and was named two (2)-time First Team All Southwest Conference in 1987 and 1988. In 1989, Johnnie was drafted in the 5 th round as the 122 nd overall pick by the San Francisco 49ers. Johnnie excelled as safety for the 49ers and was a member of the San Francisco 49ers team that won the Super Bowl in 1990 against the Denver Broncos. Johnnie played with and against many NFL Hall of Fame players. Johnnie played four (4) NFL seasons with the 49ers and the Green Bay Packers. Photo courtesy of Google Leo Araguz (Harlingen) Our latest Harlingen High football player to make it to the NFL is Leo Araguz. Leo started as kicker and punter for the Cardinals for four (4) years. Leo accepted a football scholarship to Stephen F. Austin (SFA) University, where he was a four (4)-year starter. During his Junior year at SFA, Leo led the conference with average yards per punt (42.6). Leo was a 2x Second Team All Southland Conference punter in 1990 and 1991. Leo began his professional football career in 1993. Leo had a two (2)-day tryout with the Dallas Cowboys but wasn’t signed. In 1994, Leo was a free agent with the Miami Dolphins. In 1995, Leo was signed by the San Diego Chargers. In 1996, Leo was drafted by the Rhein Fire of the World League of American Football in Germany. Leo was ranked as the 2 nd best punter in the league with a 42.3 punt average and contributed by making eight (8) of 15 field goals that season. In 1996, Leo tried out for the Oakland Raiders team as a punter. After some injuries to other punters, Leo was afforded the opportunity to punt for the last three (3) games of the Raiders’ season. Leo’s first NFL punt went for 52 yards against the Kansas City Chiefs. Leo’s 41 yard-per-punt average over the final three (3) games of the Raiders’ season prompted the Raiders to sign Leo as their starting punter. In 1997, Leo finished as the 5 th best NFL punter with a 45-yard average and ranked 2 nd in Raiders’ football history behind former Oakland Raider and Pro Football Hall of Fame punter, Ray Guy. In 1998, Leo set the NFL record with 16 punts in one (1) game. Leo spent four (4) seasons with the Oakland Raiders. In 2001, Leo punted for the New York/New Jersey Hitmen of the XFL and produced 44 punts for 1,788 yards (40.6-yard average). In 2001, Leo was signed by the St. Louis Rams but was released. He also signed with the Detroit Lions to replace their injured punter. Leo had a 41.9 yard-per-punt average for the Lions in just three (3) games. In 2003, Leo signed with the Kansas City Chiefs but was released before the season started. However, he was signed by the Minnesota Vikings that season and averaged 38.7 yards-per-punt in only 2 games. In 2005, Leo was signed by the Seattle Seahawks and won the starting punter position. However, after a promising start, he was released mid-season. Leo’s last NFL team was with the Baltimore Ravens in 2006, but he was released before the season began. From 2011-2015, Leo punted for the Rio Grande Valley Sol of the X-League Indoor Football. Leo retired from professional football after 22 years and returned to his hometown. He runs a construction company. An Elite Club We are fortunate to have seven (7) individuals from our community who have reached the pinnacle of NFL football. I admire these athletes and their achievements in professional football as well as in life. We have a first-round NFL draft pick in the first ever player draft in NFL history. We have two College Football champions. We have one NFL Champion and three Super Bowl Champions and one who played in a Super Bowl game. We have players from the Harlingen area who have played with and against NFL legends who are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. We have players who have played in other countries, and all these players have significant professional football accomplishments. However, the one thing that all these talented players have in common is that they all had the opportunity to live and experience the NFL Dream. In case you are wondering, only 1.5% of American football players make it to the NFL. It truly is an elite club. Hope the 2025 NFL season is the best one ever. Go, Cowboys!
