Desi Najera
Inducted 2019
Hometown: Brownsville
High School: Brownsville High School
College: Texas A&I University
Best Known for: Athlete – Football
Najera is regarded as one of the best quarterbacks ever to play high school football in Brownsville.
Najera played quarterback at Brownsville High School from 1967-69, and was part of a team that was winless in his sophomore year. During the 1969 senior season, Najera led Brownsville to the District 26-4A championship and a 10-2 season record. He was a dual-threat quarterback who passed for 1,300 yards with 19 touchdowns rushed for 1,000 more with 12 TDs in his senior season. Brownsville won a bi-district championship before falling in the region semifinals. He received second-team all-state honors.
Najera and 10 of his teammates from the 1969 team went on to play collegiate football. He received 26 college offers and chose Texas A&I University, where he played two seasons. His combined 333 yards was an individual school record at the time and earned him recognition in the Sports Illustrated “Faces in the Crowd.”
