Pro Football Hall of Fame - History
Hall of Famers
Fred Biletnikoff
George Blanda
Willie Brown
Dave Casper
Al Davis
Mike Haynes
Ted Hendricks
Howie Long
Jim Otto
Art Shell
Marcus Allen
Gene Upshaw
Oakland Raiders
The American Football League was formally organized on August
14, 1959. However, the Oakland Raiders did not become the
eighth member of the new league until January 1960, when they
were selected as a replacement for the Minneapolis franchise,
which defected to the NFL. A major initial stumbling block was
the lack of an adequate stadium in Oakland. Until the 54,616
capacity Oakland Coliseum was opened in 1966, the Raiders had
to play in Kezar Stadium and Candlestick Park across the bay
in San Francisco and in a temporary stadium, Frank Youell
Field, in Oakland. Oakland's record for the first three years
was a miserable 9-33-0. Average home attendance was just under
11,000.
Then in 1963, the Raiders hired a San Diego assistant coach,
Al Davis, as their new head coach and the reversal in fortunes
was both rapid and dramatic. From a 1-13 mark in 1962, Oakland
improved to 10-4 in 1963 and Davis was named the AFL Coach of
the Year. Since that time, the Raiders' destiny has been the
exclusive responsibility of Davis, who left the team only
briefly for a short term as AFL commissioner in 1966. After
the AFL-NFL merger was completed, Davis returned to the
Raiders as managing general partner and immediately
transformed the Oakland franchise into one of pro football's
premier organizations. Starting in 1965, the Raiders posted
winning records 19 of the next 20 years. During that period,
they won 12 divisional championships, the 1967 AFL
championship, AFC championships in 1976, 1980 and 1983 and
victories in Super Bowls XI, XV and XVIII. The Raiders are
also the only team, NFL or AFL, to play in the Super Bowl in
the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.
In the 30-year period dating back to when Davis took over in
1963 up through 1992, the Raiders' winning record of .661 with
285 victories, 146 losses and 11 ties ranks as the best among
all major sports teams. The Raiders also have dominated the
Monday Night Football series with 30 victories (more than any
other team) and a tie in 41 appearances.
While Davis stresses "Commitment to Excellence" for his entire
organization, some of the Raiders' unprecedented success can
be attributed to outstanding individual players and coaches
who have worn the Silver and Black. In addition to Davis
himself, ten players -- Jim Otto, George Blanda, Willie Brown,
Gene Upshaw, Art Shell, Fred Biletnikoff, Ted Hendricks, Mike
Haynes, Howie Long, and Dave Casper -- have been elected to
the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Five Raider coaches have been
named either AFL or NFL Coach of the Year. In addition to
Davis, they are John Rauch, John Madden, Tom Flores and Shell.
The Raiders made headlines of a different nature when they
moved from the Oakland Coliseum to the more spacious Los
Angeles Coliseum in 1982. After 12 seasons in Southern
California, the team moved back to their original city.
RAIDERS FACTS
Franchise Granted: January 30, 1960 as the Oakland Raiders
First Season: 1960
Played in Oakland: 1960-1981, 1995-2002
Played in Los Angeles: 1982-1994
Stadium: Network Associates Coliseum
President of the General Partner: Al Davis
Head Coach: Bill Callahan
Super Bowl Championships: XI, XV, XVIII
Super Bowl Appearances: II, XI, XV, XVIII, XXXVII
AFL Championships: 1967
AFC Championships: 1976, 1980, 1983, 2002
AFL Western Division Championships: 1967, 1968, 1969
AFC Western Division Championships: 1970, 1972,
1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1983, 1985, 1990, 2000,
2001, 2002
All-Time Record (counting postseason): 406-270-11
AFL Record: 80-61-5
NFL Regular Season Record: 381-252-11
Home Record: 211-108-6
Away Record: 210-109-3
Record versus the NFC: 81-41
Record after a bye week: 17-8-0
Wins in games decided by one point: 24-10
Shutout Wins: 17
Seasons with a .500 record or better: 33
Most Consecutive Winning Seasons: 16 (1965-1980)
Most Consecutive seasons without making the playoffs 60-66: 7
Consecutive Division Titles: 5 (72-76)
3-Consecutive losing seasons: 3 (60-62)
Retired Uniform Numbers: None