Al Davis, managing general partner of the Oakland Raiders and one of the men who shaped the NFL into what it is today, died at his home on Saturday at the age of 82.
Many people better suited than I will chronicle Davis’ life, which towards the end had become a subject of some ridicule.
But his impact on the NFL was immense, not so much because of his legal battles with the league but because of his passion for the game of football.
You could make a strong argument that the NFL wouldn’t be the dominate professional sports league in America without Davis.
From the late 1960′s until the mid 1980′s, Davis turned the Raiders into one of the premier franchises in the NFL.
Oakland epitomized Davis’ “dominate” and “just win baby” credos, doing so with a cast that included some of the greatest players in NFL history, 13 of which are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Kenny Stabler, Jim Otto, Gene Upshaw, Art Shell, Fred Biletnikoff, Jack Tatum, Dave Casper, George Blanda, Daryle Lamonica, John Matuszak, Ted Hendricks, Cliff Branch, Willie Brown, Howie Long, Mike Haynes, George Atkinson and Otis Sistrunk were but a few of the players that wore the Silver and Black.
Those players, in addition to Hall of Fame coach John Madden, made the Raiders the most feared team in the NFL during their glory days of the 1970′s.
Since the merger in 1970, Oakland won 12 division titles, four AFC championships and three Super Bowls with Davis overseeing virtually every aspect of the Raiders football operations.
Al Davis was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1992 and will forever be remembered as one of the pioneers of the NFL.
I’d like to take this opportunity to thank Davis for all of his contributions to the game of football and the many fond memories I have of his Raiders teams.
I’d also like to offer my most sincere condolences to his family and the Raiders organization. Davis will be missed by every fan of the NFL.
Rest in peace Al Davis.
