Raiders all-time team has the talent to win in the trenches
Raiders all-time team has the talent to win in the trenches
The Raiders had quite a bit of success in the 1970s and ’80s, winning three Super Bowls in an eight-year period. However, Raider Nation has been desperate for something to cheer about recently, with their team making the playoffs just once in the past 16 seasons.
Whether the team was based in Oakland, Los Angeles, Oakland again or soon-to-be Las Vegas, the one constant is talent in the trenches. The Raiders have had more than their share of stars on the offensive and defensive lines, including some of the greatest at their given positions.
Coach: Before the video games, tour buses or turduckens, John Madden was one of the best coaches in the NFL. He spent 10 seasons with the Raiders and is the franchise’s all-time leader with a 103-32-7 record. His teams made the playoffs eight times and reached the AFC Championship Game in seven of those seasons. Under his watch, Oakland won its first title, 32-14 over the Vikings in Super Bowl XI. Tom Flores became the first Hispanic head coach in the NFL, taking over for Madden in 1979. Over the next nine seasons in both Oakland and Los Angeles, he led the Raiders to an 83-53 record and victories in Super Bowls XV and XVIII. John Rauch lasted only three seasons in Oakland (because of Al Davis’ micromanagement), but he led a team that hadn’t made the playoffs in its first seven years of existence to a 33-8-1 record. The Raiders went 13-1 in 1967 before losing to the Packers in Super Bowl II, then went 12-2 the following year and lost to the Jets in the AFL Championship Game. Art Shell took over for Mike Shanahan during the 1989 season and led the team to a 56-52 record over parts of seven seasons. John Gruden (42-38) is in his second stint as head coach. His biggest success came in 2001 when the Raiders lost to the Patriots in the playoffs in a game that was overshadowed by the “Tuck Rule.” Bill Callahan only lasted two years in Oakland, but he led the team to Super Bowl XXXVII, where they lost to Gruden and the Buccaneers.
Quarterback: Hall of Famer Ken “Snake” Stabler spent 10 seasons in Oakland and is the club’s all-time leader with 19,078 yards, 150 touchdowns, and 143 interceptions. Stabler was the NFL’s MVP, Offensive Player of the Year and an All-Pro in 1974 when he led the league with 26 scoring passes. Two years later, he led the Raiders to their first Super Bowl victory. Derek Carr is a close second with 18,739 yards and is third with 122 touchdowns. The three-time Pro Bowl selection has thrown for 3,000 yards or more in each of his five seasons, with a high of 4,049 in 2018. Rich Gannon was the league MVP and led the Raiders to Super Bowl XXXVII in 2002 after leading the NFL with 4,689 yards. He is a four-time Pro Bowler, a two-time All-Pro and he has four seasons with 3,000 or more passing yards. Daryle Lamonica is second in team history with 148 touchdown passes to go along with 16,655 yards. He was the AFL’s Player of the Year in 1967 and he led Oakland to Super Bowl II. He is a four-time Pro Bowler and a two-time All-Pro, and he led the AFL in touchdown passes twice. Jim Plunkett led the Raiders to a pair of championships and was the MVP of Super Bowl XV against the Eagles.
Running Back: Hall of Famer Marcus Allen ran for a team-record 8,545 yards and 79 touchdowns, and he also had 4,258 receiving yards. He was named Offensive Rookie of the Year in 1982, was selected to five Pro Bowls and two All-Pro teams. Allen was the league MVP and Offensive Player of the Year in 1985 after leading the NFL with 1,759 yards. His best output was in Super Bowl XVIII, when he won game MVP honors after a 191-yard, two-touchdown performance. Pete Banaszak is second on the team list with 47 touchdowns, including a league-high 16 in 1975. He played in two Super Bowls and scored twice in the team’s first title win over the Vikings. Clem Daniels was a star in the franchise’s early days, rushing for 5,103 yards (third in team history) and 30 scores (fourth). He was a four-time Pro Bowler, a two-time All-Pro and he led the AFL with 1,099 yards in 1963. Napoleon Kaufman ran for 4,792 yards in six years, including 1,294 in 1997. Darren McFadden ran for 4,247 yards and 25 touchdowns in seven seasons. Tyrone Wheatley scored 32 times in six years and played in Super Bowl XXXVII. Clarence Davis spent eight years with the Raiders and was part of one title team.
Fullback: Mark van Eeghen is second in team history with 5,907 yards and is tied for third with 35 touchdowns. He won two championships and ran for 1,000 or more yards three times. Marv Hubbard was a three-time Pro Bowler who amassed 4,394 yards and 22 scores. Zach Crockett matched van Eeghen with 35 touchdowns, but he was much better as a blocker, paving the way for others during Oakland’s run to Super Bowl XXXVII.
Wide Receiver: After starting his career mainly as a punt returner, Tim Brown tops the team’s annals with 1,070 receptions, 14,734 yards and 99 touchdowns (all are in the top 10 in NFL history as well). The Hall of Famer has nine 1,000-yards seasons and nine Pro Bowl selections. Another inductee, Fred Biletnikoff, is second in franchise history with 589 catches, 8,974 yards, and 76 scores. He was a six-time Pro Bowler, a two-time All-Pro and he was the MVP of Super Bowl XI. Cliff Branch was on three title teams and ranks third in club history with 501 receptions, 8,685 yards, and 67 touchdowns. He was selected to four Pro Bowls, three All-Pro teams, and he led the NFL with 1,092 yards and 13 scores in 1974. Art Powell had 4,491 yards and 50 touchdowns in four seasons. He was a four-time Pro Bowler and an All-Pro in 1963. James Jett was a member of the 1993 All-Rookie Team, and he had 12 of his 30 touchdowns in 1997. Jerry Porter had 30 scores in eight seasons. Warren Wells was a two-time Pro Bowler who scored 42 touchdowns in four years and played in Super Bowl II.
Tight End: Hall of Famer Dave Casper finished with 3,294 yards and 35 touchdowns in eight seasons in Oakland and Los Angeles. He was a four-time Pro Bowler, a four-time All-Pro and a two-time champion. Todd Christensen ranks fourth in team history with 461 receptions and 5,872 yards and fifth with 41 scores. The two-time champ was also selected to five Pro Bowls and two All-Pro teams. Raymond Chester scored 37 touchdowns, went to four Pro Bowls and won a Super Bowl in two stints with the team.
Tackle: Art Shell was a Hall of Fame player who won two championships and later went on to coach the team. He went to eight Pro Bowls and was a two-time All-Pro. His championship teammate, Henry Lawrence, won three titles and went to a pair of Pro Bowls during his 13 years with the Raiders. Lincoln Kennedy went to three Pro Bowls and was an All-Pro in the 2002 Super Bowl season. Donald Penn is a two-time Pro Bowler. Barry Sims played nine seasons and appeared in Super Bowl XXXVII.
Guard: Gene Upshaw is one of the best in NFL history on the left side. The Hall of Famer went to seven Pro Bowls, was a five-time All-Pro and he went to three Super Bowls. Wayne Hawkins is a five-time Pro Bowler on the right side, and he played in Super Bowl II. Steve Wisniewski was an eight-time Pro Bowler and a two-time All-Pro. Mickey Marvin won two Super Bowls during 11 seasons in Oakland and Los Angeles. George Buehler started on the right side for the team’s first title in Super Bowl XI.
Center: Another of the all-time greats, Hall of Famer Jim Otto was a 12-time Pro Bowler and 10-time All-Pro. He played in Super Bowl II but retired before the team’s first championship. Don Mosebar was a three-time Pro Bowler who played in Super Bowl XVIII. Dave Dalby was a Pro Bowler in 1977 and a starter on three championship teams. Before his off-the-field issues, Barret Robbins was a Pro Bowler and an All-Pro in the 2002 Super Bowl season (he missed the game due to a bipolar episode).
Defensive End: Two leaders of the “Silver and Black Attack,” Howie Long and Greg Townsend, were major parts of the Super Bowl XVIII victory. Long is a Hall of Famer who went to eight Pro Bowls and was named and All-Pro twice. His 84 sacks are second in team history and include 13 in 1983 and 12 the following year. Townsend is a two-time Pro Bowler who tops the franchise list with 107½ sacks, with seven seasons of 10 or more. Anthony Smith is third with 57½ sacks, registering 13 in 1992 and 12½ the next year. Khalil Mack is fifth with 40½ sacks, including 11 in 2016, when he was named Defensive Player of the Year. He is a three-time Pro Bowler and a two-time All-Pro. Ben Davidson was a three-time Pro Bowler and an All-Pro in the 1967 Super Bowl II season.
Defensive Tackle: Bill Pickel played in Super Bowl XVIII and ranks fourth in team history with 53 sacks. He had 12½ each in 1984-85 and added 11½ in his All-Pro 1986 season. Chester McGlockton had 39½ sacks in six seasons. He was a four-time Pro Bowler and an All-Pro in 1995. Tom Keating and Dan Birdwell were starters in Super Bowl II. Keating was a two-time Pro Bowl selection and an All-Pro in 1967 and Birdwell was a Pro Bowler and All-Pro the following season. Otis Sistrunk was a part of the Raiders’ first championship team and went to the Pro Bowl in 1974. Tommy Kelly had 34½ sacks in nine years.
Outside Linebacker: Hall of Famer Ted Hendricks went to four Pro Bowls and was a two-time All-Pro. The three-time champion played in 131 games in nine seasons. Rod Martin is a two-time champion, a two-time Pro Bowler and an All-Pro in 1984 when he had 11 sacks. Phil Villapiano is a four-time Pro Bowler who played in Super Bowl XI. Gus Otto appeared in Super Bowl II and was a Pro Bowler in 1969.
Middle Linebacker: Dan Connors is a three-time Pro Bowler who played in Super Bowl II. He had 15 interceptions, 16 fumbles recovers, and five defensive scores. Greg Biekert is second in franchise history with 702 solo tackles and he also had 15 interceptions. Matt Millen went to the Pro Bowl in 1988 and won two titles in nine seasons in Los Angeles.
Cornerback: Hall of Famer Willie Brown is tied for the most interceptions in team history with 39. He is a seven-time Pro Bowler, a four-time All-Pro, and he appeared in two Super Bowls. Lester Hayes also has 39 picks, including a league-high 13 in 1980, when he was named an All-Pro and Defensive Player of the Year. He was also a two-time champion and a five-time Pro Bowler. Charles Woodson was the 1998 Defensive Rookie of the Year, an All-Pro in 1999 and a participant in Super Bowl XXXVII. The five-time Pro Bowler is also third in team history with 604 solo tackles. Terry McDaniel is a five-time Pro Bowler and is third on the franchise list with 34 interceptions, including five returned for scores. Dave Grayson is a three-time Pro Bowler, a three-time All-Pro, and he played in Super Bowl II. His 29 interceptions include four returned for touchdowns, as well as an AFL-high 10 in 1968. Hall of Famer Mike Haynes was a three-time Pro Bowler, a two-time All-Pro, and he helped Los Angeles win Super Bowl XVIII.
Safety: George “Butch” Atkinson and Jack Tatum were teammates in Super Bowl XI and are tied for fifth in team history with 30 interceptions. Tatum went to three Pro Bowls and Atkinson was selected twice. Vann McElroy is fourth with 31 picks. He is a two-time Pro Bowler who played in Super Bowl XVIII. Warren Powers started in Super Bowl II and had 22 interceptions. Eddie Anderson returned three of his 19 interceptions for touchdowns and he tops the team’s all-time list with 761 solo tackles.
Kicker: The Raiders did the unthinkable and selected Sebastian Janikowski in the first round in 2000. He went on to score a franchise-record 1,799 points, including 10 seasons with 100 or more. He played in Super Bowl XXXVII and went to the Pro Bowl in 2011. Hall of Famer George Blanda had four seasons with 100 or more points. He earned a spot in the Pro Bowler after leading the AFL with 116 in Oakland’s 1967 Super Bowl season.
Punter: Arguably the two greatest in the history of the position played in Oakland. Ray Guy is the only punter in the Hall of Fame. He is a seven-time Pro Bowler, a three-time All-Pro and a three-time champion. He also led the NFL in punting average three times. Shane Lechler went to seven Pro Bowls, was a six-time All-Pro, and his 47.6-yard average is the highest in NFL history (it was 47.5 in 13 years with the Raiders).
Returners: Chris Carr tops the list with 4,841 kickoff return yards, including two seasons leading the league. Jacoby Ford brought back four kickoffs and three punts for touchdowns. Irving “Bo” Roberson is second in team history with 2,791 yards on kickoffs. Davis and Kaufman both returned kicks. Brown is the team’s all-time leader with 3,272 punt return yards, and both he and Atkinson returned three for scores.
Special Teams: Vincent “Bo” Jackson was one of the most dynamic players in the NFL before a hip injury ended his career after four seasons. The two-sport star registered the league’s longest run in three separate years, and he made the Pro Bowl in 1990. Jon Condo made two Pro Bowls as a long snapper and only missed three games in 11 years.
Next: On to the NFC with the Dallas Cowboys
-By: Kevin Rakas