16 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY may 16-22, 2024 www.montereycountynow.com The legacy of Joe Kapp, a football legend who cut his teeth in Alisal, is getting a fresh look. By David Schmalz From Salinas to the Super Bowl Joe Kapp was born in Santa Fe, but he was made in Salinas. A football player who Sports Illustrated once dubbed “The Toughest Chicano,” Kapp was a man of many facets: a husband, a father, an older brother and son. And, an athlete. But none of those things are what set him apart. What made Kapp special is that he was a leader, and above all, a fighter, both on the field and in the world. Kapp was never inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame—he played most of his professional career in Canada—but he left a lasting impact on the sport that resonates to this day. In 1972, he sued the league over a contract dispute with the New England Patriots that ended his football career. This came after Kapp had lent his weight to La Causa, the yearslong fight Cesar Chavez led on behalf of farmworkers’ rights. Kapp told a group of protesters in L.A. in 1970—the peak year of his fame—that he’d picked grapes and lettuce himself. “I’ve seen their agony…Steinbeck didn’t describe half the scene.” In 1974, Kapp prevailed in his lawsuit against the NFL, although he was never awarded monetary damages. But to this day, the NFL players making millions have Kapp to thank, at least in part—he was the first athlete to poke the bear, to stand up for what he thought was right. Joe Kapp leading—and leaping—the Vikings to victory over the Cleveland Browns during the Vikings’ 1969-70 Super Bowl run. Courtesy of Minnesota Vikings
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