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Portrait of Al Davis (1929 - 2011) Principal owner and general manager of the Los Angeles Raiders

The Life And Career Of Al Davis

“Just win, baby!” Late Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders owner Al Davis uttered those words as a rallying cry to his troops. After coaching the franchise for three years in the mid-1960s, Davis took part ownership soon after. His mantra would lead the Raiders to three world titles in five Super Bow...

Ben Donahue • 8 months ago

Sebastian Janikowski #11 of the Oakland Raiders looks on

The Life And Career Of Sebastian Janikowski (Story)

As a franchise, the Oakland/Los Angeles/Las Vegas Raiders have always gone against the grain. If conventional wisdom says not to do something, the Raiders will do it anyway. Take, for example, the Raiders' pick in the first round of the 2000 NFL Draft. When it came time for their selection, O...

Ben Donahue • 3 years ago

Pro Football Hall of Fame player Ted Hendricks

The Life And Career Of Ted Hendricks (Story)

If one were to ask an NFL fan to list the most intimidating nicknames in league history, chances are “The Mad Stork” wouldn’t make the cut. In fact, the moniker might even be mistaken for a Disney character. However, owing to his tall frame and lean physique, Ted Hendricks was bequeathed The...

Ben Donahue • 3 years ago

More from Pro Football History on Oakland Raiders History

Gene Upshaw speaks at the JB Awards

The Life And Career Of Gene Upshaw (Story)

Between 1967 and 1981, NFL defenders experienced real fear when they spied Gene Upshaw headed in their direction. Upshaw was a guard for the Oakland Raiders who thrived on dispensing brute force and bad intentions on opponents. https://twitter.com/VanderlansJim/status/1559147499201257472 On t...

Ben Donahue • 3 years ago

Former NFL punter Ray Guy

The Life And Career Of Ray Guy (Story)

The Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders' Ray Guy was arguably the greatest punter in National Football League history. Without a doubt, Guy set the bar high for punters of his era and beyond. His punting excellence eventually gave birth to the term "hang time." Guy, a seven-time Pro Bowler and six-ti...

Poch de la Rosa • 3 years ago

Quarterback Rich Gannon #12 of the Oakland Raiders throws a pass

The Life And Career Of Rich Gannon (Story)

There’s a saying that opportunity only knocks once. In professional sports, that’s not quite true. For Rich Gannon, opportunity knocked several times before he finally showed his potential. A fourth-round pick in the 1987 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots, Gannon spent most of his first d...

Ben Donahue • 3 years ago

Oakland head coach Art Shell leaves the field

The Life And Career Of Art Shell (Story)

Poch de la Rosa • 3 years ago Art Shell was one of the greatest offensive tackles in Oakland Raiders history. When Shell joined forces with Gene Upshaw, Bob Brown, Jim Otto, and Ron Mix in the early 1970s, the Raiders led the AFC in offense during the first few years of the John Madden era in Oakland. Nine years into Shel...

Linebacker Matt Millen

The Life And Career Of Matt Millen (Story)

Poch de la Rosa • 4 years ago Former Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders middle linebacker Matt Millen made an indelible mark on the franchise during his memorable nine-season tenure from 1980 to 1988. Millen, who grew up idolizing Ray Nitschke, Dick Butkus, Alex Karras, and Willie Lanier, promptly followed in their footsteps whe...

Lester Hayes

The Life And Career Of Lester Hayes (Story)

Ben Donahue • 4 years ago In the early 1980s, the Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders were blessed with a potent offense and a suffocating defense. One of the leaders of the secondary was Lester Hayes. “The Judge” arrived in Oakland in 1977 and helped lead the franchise to two Super Bowl victories. https://twitter.com/OleTime...

Tom Flores, a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame

The Life And Career Of Tom Flores (Story)

Poch de la Rosa • 4 years ago Tom Flores is one of the most iconic figures in Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders franchise history. Flores, who thought he would embark on a teaching career in Fresno, became the Raiders' first quarterback when they entered the American Football League (AFL) in 1960. It marked the beginning of a 5...

coach Fred Biletnikoff of the Oakland Raiders

The Life And Career Of Fred Biletnikoff (Story)

Poch de la Rosa • 4 years ago There's no question that Fred Biletnikoff was one of the greatest wide receivers in Oakland Raiders franchise history. After a slow start in the collegiate ranks, Biletnikoff's memorable 192-yard and four-touchdown explosion in the 1964 Gator Bowl prompted Raiders head coach Al Davis to sign...

Nnamdi Asomugha #21 of the Oakland Raiders celebrates

What Happened To Nnamdi Asomugha? (Story)

Ben Donahue • 4 years ago From 2005 to 2010, the Oakland Raiders' Nnamdi Asomugha was one of the premier shutdown corners in the NFL. https://twitter.com/reytheraider64/status/311649948917702656 In 2006, Asomugha had a career-best eight interceptions, and for the next few years, opposing quarterbacks rarely challenged...

Quarterback Ken (The Snake) Stabler of the New Orleans Saints prepares to pass the ball.

The Fast Life And Career Of Ken Stabler (Complete Story)

Ben Donahue • 4 years ago Some of the most entertaining players in NFL history had nicknames that perfectly fit their character and the teams they led. “Broadway” Joe Namath led the New York Jets to a guaranteed victory in Super Bowl III. Reggie White, “The Minister of Defense,” helped Green Bay return to a championsh...

Legendary defensive end John Matuszak of the Los Angeles Raiders signs autographs for fans during the game against the Detroit Lions at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on September 20, 1987 in Los Angeles, California. The Raiders won 27-7.

What Happened To John Matuszak? (Story)

Ben Donahue • 4 years ago Late Oakland/LA Raiders owner Al Davis was known for a lot of things. He loved strong armed quarterbacks, fast receivers, and an angry, aggressive defense. Davis was also adept at collecting characters. One of the most colorful characters he signed was defensive lineman John Matuszak. Teased...

A member of the LSU 1958 National Championship team Billy Cannon was added to LSU's Wall of Fame during the NCAA football game between the Ole Miss Rebels and the LSU Tigers at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, LA.

The Life And Career Of Billy Cannon (Complete Story)

Ben Donahue • 4 years ago If there was ever a figure that epitomized the ideal of gridiron glory in the 1950s and 1960s it was Billy Cannon. https://twitter.com/LaSportsHall/status/1025150967489220610 Cannon was a superstar at LSU and then spent a decade in the NFL. His play captivated a nation, especially fans of foo...

Terrelle Pryor #2 of the Oakland Raiders thows a second quarter touchdown

The Life And Career Of Terrelle Pryor (Story)

Robert Marvi • 4 years ago Terrelle Pryor was a quarterback who had potential early in his football career. He had tremendous athleticism, and before he got to the National Football League, he won numerous awards while making scouts drool in anticipation of what he could do at the pro level. Unfortunately, he didn't qu...

Former Oakland Raiders coach and legendary NFL television announcer John Madden speaks to the media after his election to the Pro Football Hall of Fame during a press conference announcing the Class of 2006 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinees in Detroit, Michigan. Madden was part of a 6-man class elected by the Hall of FameÕs 39-member Selection Committee. The newest members of the Hall were selected from a list of 15 finalists that had been determined earlier by the committee.

The Legend Of John Madden (Complete Story)

Ben Donahue • 4 years ago Sports broadcasters come in all shapes, sizes, and talent. The truly special ones become the soundtrack of not only our favorite teams but our very lives. Football itself has had its share of memorable announcers at both the college and pro levels. Perhaps the most beloved NFL broadcaster of...

Robert Gallery of the Oakland Raiders during a game against the San Diego Chargers at McAfee Coliseum in Oakland, California on September 11, 2006. San Diego won 27-0.

What Happened To Robert Gallery? (Complete Story)

Poch de la Rosa • 5 years ago No other rookie offensive lineman was as highly-touted as Robert Gallery in the National Football League in 2004. He could've pulverized incoming pass rushers the way Anthony Munoz, Jonathan Ogden, or Orlando Pace did it back in the day. Thing is, he didn't. Gallery, a 6'7", 325-lb. mountain...

Charles Woodson #24 of the Oakland Raiders celebrates against the Denver Broncos in the first half at O.co Coliseum on November 9, 2014 in Oakland, California.

The Life And Career Of Charles Woodson (Complete Story)

Ben Donahue • 5 years ago Sometimes, a person is born who just seems to have “it.” That “it” factor can best be described as having the capacity and capability to find success in whatever endeavor one aspires to. You know just by being in the person’s presence that he or she is going to do very well in life. Charles W...

NFL Hall of Famer and Raider great Willie Brown makes the Raiders pick during round 2 of the 2015 NFL Draft. The NFL Draft is being held at the Auditorium Theatre in Chicago, IL

The Life And Career Of Willie Brown (Complete Story)

Poch de la Rosa • 5 years ago Willie Brown set the precedent for playing the cornerback position in Oakland. His exemplary play paved the way for future Oakland Raiders defensive stalwarts such as Mike Haynes, Lester Hayes, Rod Woodson, and Charles Woodson. His on-field exploits helped him earn three Super Bowl rings - on...

Oakland Raiders quarterback JaMarcus Russell (2) warms up before the game against the New York Giants at Giants Stadium in east Rutherford, NJ

What Happened To JaMarcus Russell? (Complete Story)

Tim Durr • 5 years ago Looking back on it, maybe it should have been obvious that JaMarcus Russell could be a bust. The LSU Tigers roster surrounding Russell his entire college career was dominant. His play didn't exceed the stats of other QBs on the roster who made starts around him. In his junior year at LSU in 2...