Las Vegas Raiders

Born in 1960, the Las Vegas Raiders carved a niche as one of the eight pioneering teams in the American Football League (AFL). Despite the initial three years marked by losses, a radical change was brought about by Al Davis in 1963. As the team’s head coach and general manager, he breathed new life into the Raiders with a “vertical” passing strategy. It soon found the team turned into serious contenders in the AFL.

 

Raiders’ Winning Streak

Davis’ offensive approach with quarterback Daryle Lamonica and centre Jim Otto at the helm led to the team’s first AFL championship in December 1967. This triumph was a ticket to their first Super Bowl the subsequent January, despite a loss to the Green Bay Packers. John Madden took over as head coach in 1969, setting the stage for the Raiders to become an elite team. Their golden era began, and under Madden’s ten-year reign, the Raiders emerged as the victorious team in the first Super Bowl of 1977.

 

The ‘Villains’ of the NFL

This period marked the Raiders’ transformation into a team of fierce players like Jim Otto, Gene Upshaw, Art Shell, Ted (“the Stork”) Hendricks, Ben Davidson, Willie Brown, and others. The team earned a reputation for being tough, occasionally crossing the line into dirty play. The team also boasted of future Hall of Fame players like Dave Casper, George Blanda, Fred Biletnikoff, and Ken (“the Snake”) Stabler. Madden’s successor, Tom Flores, led the team to another Super Bowl victory in 1981.

 

The Great Relocation Saga

Discontented with the team’s home stadium, Davis signed an agreement 1980 promising to move the franchise to Los Angeles. While the NFL blocked the move initially, Davis’ victory in a landmark antitrust lawsuit against the league in 1982 led to the team’s immediate relocation. The location change did not hamper their performance, and they bagged another Super Bowl title in 1984 with players like Marcus Allen, Howie Long, and Mike Haynes leading the charge.

 

Second Move and Struggles

Over time, Davis became disgruntled with the Los Angeles stadium and decided to move the franchise back to Oakland in 1995. The subsequent years were tough for the Raiders. But they bounced back with a powerful offense led by Rich Gannon, Tim Brown, and Jerry Rice. Their efforts earned the Raiders a spot in the Super Bowl in 2003. Despite losing to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Raiders’ strong performance was a beacon of hope.

 

Rocky Years and Recent Success

The period from 2003 to 2015 witnessed a sharp decline in the Raiders’ success, marred by poor personnel decisions, on-field failures, and a turbulent front office. However, they turned things around in 2016 with 12 wins and a playoff spot. Jon Gruden was rehired as head coach in 2018, but the team struggled with a 4-12 record in his first season. After years of failed negotiations for stadium upgrades in Oakland, the franchise relocated to Las Vegas in 2020, adding another chapter to the Raiders’ story.