Jeff Hostetler: Pride and Poise

    The Raiders have had many different Quarterbacks.  Some were great and others simply sucked.  However besides Gannon and Plunkett the best Quarterback that I ever watched in a live game was Hostetler.  Hostetler joined the Raiders in 1993 because the team had been in turmoil since a horrible defeat to the Buffalo Bills in the 1991 AFC Championship Game. Click here to see Jeffs Stats as a Raider.

    Since Plunketts retirement in 1986 the Raiders had gone through several different Quarterbacks.  I can remember the frustration of having great players like Howie Long, Marcus Allen, Bo Jackson, Greg Townsend, etc, and horrible quarterbacks like Todd Marinovich, Marc Wilson, etc.  Hostetler's signing turned the Raiders around in just one season.  The team struggled to a 9-7 record in 1991 and a 7-9 record in 1992.  In 1993 Hostetler led the Raiders to the playoffs, as he added much-needed leadership and stability. He passed for 3,242 yards and 14 touchdowns.  Also, Jeff rushed for five touchdowns which is still a Raider record for a quarterback during the regular season.  He was second on the team in rushing yards and started all sixteen games.  Hostetler became the first Raiders passer to surpass 3,000+ passing yards since Ken Stabler did it in 1979.

       On January 9, 1994 Hostetler passed for three touchdowns and 294 yards in a 42-24 win over the hated Denver Broncos.  The Raiders gained 427 yards in total offense that day which included three touchdown runs by running back Napoleon McCallum.  January 14, 1994 was a very cold day in Orchard Park, New York as the Raiders played the Buffalo Bills in the Divisional Playoffs.  The Raiders held a 17-13 advantage at half-time but once again the Bills got the best of the Raiders.  In the second half the Raiders were outscored 17-7 and they found themselves going home again.  However, Hostetler played very well in the game completing 14 of 20 passes for one touchdown and no interceptions.  He also passed for 230 yards.

    In 1994 the Raiders missed the playoffs for only the second time in the past five seasons.  Hostetler  became only the second Raider ever to throw for 3,000+ yards in consecetive seasons (Rich Gannon would become the third in 2000).

    1995 saw the Raider returning to Oakland and the Raiders rewarded the city with a 8-2 start.  But the Raiders would lose Hostetler to several injuries throughout the year and he missed much of the season.  When he returned from injury he was very inconsistent and he would receive shoulder surgery after the season.  Without Hostetler the Raiders collapsed, losing their last 6 games to finish the season at 8-8.

    Hostetler rebounded in 1996 but the team let him leave via free agency after the season because of personal problems with management.  But despite missing several games in 1995-1996, Hostetler always played well and put up big numbers.  In his career with the Raiders Jeff completed  58% of his passes and tossed 69 touchdowns.  These are very good numbers for a man who played on teams with average talent in most areas and a weak offensive line.

    Without a doubt Hostetler was the best quarterback that the Raiders had between 1987-1998.  Jeff is the highest rated passer in Raider history.  Hoss has the second highest completion percentage in Raider history and ranks sixth all-time on the Raider passing yardage list. Finally, Hoss ranks sixth in touchdown tosses and has the lowest interception percentage in Raider history.

     He put up good numbers but his importance went beyond touchdown passes.  Like Rich Gannon, the Raiders believed in Hostetler and he always responded with his toughness, savvy and courage.  Jeff's uniform was always covered with blood stains as he played behind a weak offensive line and watched James Jett drop his passes. In many ways it is too bad that Hostetler never played with Jon Gruden and the Raiders of 1999-2000.  I think he would have responded and fit in perfectly to Grudens scheme.  Hostetler was a great player and I still miss him.  He was one of the toughest football players that I ever saw.

Hostetlers Stats

Hostetler's Rushing Stats

Hostetler's Playoff Stats

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