For the full experience, please play Steve Sabol’s poem, “The Autumn Wind” in the background as you read this article (or maybe, the Ice Cube “Raider Nation” rap anthem).
Since the NFL and AFC announced their merger in 1966, few teams have been as uniquely polarizing as the Oakland Raiders. Loved by many, and hated by many more, to follow the highs and lows of the Raiders over the last 50 years would be quite an experience. From 1966 to 1980, the Raiders were among the NFL (and briefly the AFL)’s elite. Over this span, the Raiders would have 15 straight winning records, 11 playoff berths, nine division championships, three Super Bowl appearances, and two Lombardi Trophies. Quarterbacks Daryle Lamonica and Ken Stabler would both win the MVP award, and Stabler would take home the MVP and the Offensive Player of The Year award in 1974. In 1980, during Oakland’s second Super Bowl season, quarterback Jim Plunkett would win the Comeback Player of The Year award, as well as the Super Bowl MVP while defensive back Lester Hayes would also win Defensive Player of The Year.
After a 7-9 season, owner Al Davis would relocate the team to Los Angeles, and the team immediately returned to their winning ways. Despite playing in a strike-shortened season, the Raiders still managed to win all but one of their games before losing in the divisional round to the New York Jets. The next year, the Raiders, along with star running back, Marcus Allen, would rout the Philadelphia Eagles 38-9 in Super Bowl XVIII, earning their third Super Bowl championship. Sadly, this would be the last time the Raiders tasted gold.
The Raiders would go on to occasionally taste brief success over the next 20 years, even adding a new league MVP trophy through Rich Gannon in 2002. But for the most part, they were mediocre. Something happened in their devastating 48-21 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Super Bowl XXXVII, as the Raiders wouldn’t smell the playoffs for at least the next 14 years. In fact, they wouldn’t even break .500. For the Raider Nation, they are very lucky to have had such a glorious past, because the present wasn’t always pretty. While the future is looking up in Oakland (or Las Vegas) nowadays, it’s worth taking a minute to recognize the glory of the past. This is a lineup of the very best of the very best in Oakland (or Los Angeles) Raider history.
Author’s Note
This list only includes players who are best known for their time with the Oakland Raiders. Meaning that players like Jerry Rice, Randy Moss, Ronnie Lott, Eric Dickerson, and Rod Woodson will not be appearing.
The Oakland/L.A. Raiders All-Time Team: Defense and Special Teams
Howie Long, defensive lineman
When you think of Raider defenders, you likely think of Howie Long. Howie, the father of current NFL stars Chris and Kyle Long, wasn’t a bad player himself. And by not bad, I mean, he was one of the best of all time. The accolades fly off the paper when you research Howie Long. Defensive player the year, eight time Pro Bowler, three time First Team All-Pro, Super Bowl Champion and Hall of Famer.
Greg Townsend, defensive lineman
Unlike Howie Long, Greg Townsend isn’t a household name. This is funny, because Townsend actually has more sacks than Long does. In fact, Townsend is the franchise’s all-time leading sacker (107.5). He was a teammate of Howie’s for most of his career, but never really got the recognition he deserved. He went to the Pro Bowl just twice, while being named an All-Pro four times. Khalil Mack will try his best to pass Townsend, but he might have some strange competition, as a young undrafted pass rusher named Greg Townsend Jr. just signed with the team.
John Matuszak, defensive lineman
From a crazy pick to a crazy guy. The only thing wilder than Matuszak’s film is the stories you hear about him. Matuszak was so wild that head coach Tom Flores asked Kenny Stabler if the “Tooz” could live with him. The Snake told stories of how wild Matuszak was, claiming he lived off of Cheez Whiz, Bagels, and Crown Royal. During a practice with the Kansas City Chiefs, his first wife tried to run him over with a car, forcing him to flee to a cemetery, where he used gravestones for cover.
Beyond the legendary stories, Matuszak was also a great player. Sadly, they didn’t record some defensive statistics during his time, so we have to rely on film, and the praise of his teammates. Also, he was Sloth in the Goonies.
Ted Hendricks, outside linebacker
Maybe this list should’ve been called “The Best Raider Nicknames”, as the “Mad Stork” makes the list. Hendricks was so good that John Madden converted the Raiders from 4-3 to a 3-4 so that Hendricks could get more snaps as a standing defensive end. In fact, during his time with the Raiders, he took snaps at almost every position in the front seven. He started for the Raiders during all three of their Super Bowl seasons, was a nine time All-Pro, an eight time Pro Bowler, and a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Matt Millen, inside linebacker
Despite the fact that Matt Millen was one of the worst general managers in the history of football, it’s worth remembering that he was a very good linebacker. He was a two time All-Pro for the Raiders, and was there for two of their Super Bowl wins.
Rod Martin, outside linebacker
When it comes to Rod Martin, one number really jumps out at you. He had three interceptions in a Super Bowl. For a linebacker to have three interceptions in a game at all is almost unheard of, but to do so in the Super Bowl is incredible. An All-Pro, a Pro Bowler, and a mainstay on a Super Bowl defense, any All-Time Raider list without Martin is incomplete.
Positions of Note: The Secondary
The Oakland Raiders have been blessed at this position since their inception. Everyone from Ronnie Lott to Charles Woodson to Rod Woodson to Lester Hayes has crept around the Raider’s secondary. Picking just four men to represent a team full of hall of fame caliber defensive backs was not an easy task.
Charles Woodson, cornerback
Admittedly, if Charles Woodson hadn’t come back to spend two more years with the Oakland Raiders, he would not have been allowed on this list. And while he did spend most of his second bout as a safety, he’ll be remembered for the incredible work he did as a corner.
Aside from being only the second defensive player to ever win the Heisman Trophy in the history of college football, Woodson has been phenomenal in other ways. He was a first team All-Pro in his second season, and a second team All-Pro in his 17th. He won the Defensive Rookie and Player of the Year awards, was part of the NFL’s All-Decade team for the 2000’s, and only four players in NFL history have more interceptions than he does, and none of them played in the passing era. Charles Woodson is also the only player in NFL history with 60 interceptions and 20 sacks. Oddly, he’s also the only player in NFL history with 50 interceptions and 20 sacks. He was truly remarkable player, and the Raider Nation miss him terribly.
Mike Haynes, cornerback
Honorable Mention- “Old Man Willie” Brown
Again, with so many great defensive backs, it was hard to pick just two corners. Lester Hayes came up, and I even briefly toyed with the idea of using Nnamdi Asomugha. But at the end of the day, Haynes slipped by Brown by the skin of his teeth. However, I couldn’t keep Brown off the list for that one glorious moment alone. You know the one.
However, it’s Haynes that gets the illustrious spot. Many would argue that some of Haynes’ best work was with the Patriots, but that’s simply not true. When Haynes joined Hayes in Los Angeles, they formed perhaps the best cornerback tandem of all time. While Hayes was great, Haynes was even greater, and the proof is in the pudding. During the 1983 regular season, the Raiders and the Redskins played each other. At this time, Haynes was still a member of the Patriots. The Redskins won 37-35 and the Raiders had no answers for Gary Gibbs’ offense. Three months later, the teams met again, and this time in the Super Bowl. Unlike the first encounter, the Raiders had Haynes. Not only did the Raiders win, but they did so convincingly, winning 38-9 in blowout fashion.
George Atkinson, safety
What is there to say about George Atkinson? Chuck Noll had a lot to say about “the criminal element of the NFL” back in in 1970s, especially after his ridiculous hits that would get him thrown out of today’s NFL. The way that Atkinson played could not be reproduced in the modern NFL without suspensions and fines. The same goes for the player immediately following Atkinson on this list. Roger Goodell likely stays up at night, trying to retroactively fine Atkinson for hits like this.
Safety- Jack Tatum
Other than having one of the coolest nicknames in sports, “The Assassin” was a hard hitting safety for the Raiders. Tatum has probably been shown on NFL Network more than any other Raider on this list, but not because of one of his legendary tackles. On December 23rd, 1972, Tatum was involved with a little play known as “the Immaculate Reception”. Despite that, Tatum’s vicious, lights out style of play endears him to Raiders fans to this day.
Special Teams
Sebastian Janikowski, placekicker
He better be on this list, considering that in 2000, the Oakland Raiders spent their first round pick on the “Polish Cannon”. Imagine for a minute that a draft occurred where a kicker was a first round pick, and perhaps the best quarterback of all time was taken 199th overall. That actually happened.
Anyway, despite father time taking its toll on Janikowski’s body, causing him to miss some really makeable field goals in recent memory, there’s no question that if any kicker every should’ve been taken in the first round, it was Seabass. He holds many NFL records, such as the longest field goal in overtime (57 yards), the most field goals of 50 yards or more in a game (3), the most field goals attempted from beyond 60 yards in a career (8), and the most 60 yards kicks converted in a career (3). But frankly, the best moment of his career was when Janikowski attempted a 70 yard field goal… and was wide right.
Ray Guy, punter
Honorable Mention- Shane Lechler
Only the Raiders can claim that they have two Hall of Fame punters. While Lechler isn’t yet, and may not be for a long time, there’s no question that during his 16 year career, he’s been one of the very best in the game. In fact, back in 2011, he booted an 80-yard punt.
But as great as Lechler has been, there’s one Raider that’s better. Ray Guy, also known as the only punter in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, is easily the best punter in Raider’s history.
Jon Condo, long snapper
Some people might say it’s a bit silly to include a long snapper on a list like this. But those people don’t remember the 22-14 loss the Raiders suffered to the San Diego Chargers in Week One of 2012. The Raiders were competing with the Chargers before Condo got injured, and linebacker Travis Goethel had to step in.
The result? Three botched punts, one of which was blocked, giving the Chargers amazing field position. It’s not a given, but in a game where they only lost by eight points, the Raiders might have won if they hadn’t blown the field position battle three times. This was the first game of the Dennis Allen era. While it set the tone for the rest of his time in Oakland, you have to wonder what might have been had they started on the right foot.
Moving forward, there are some young players on the Raiders roster that have the potential to find themselves on this list someday. The quarterback, Derek Carr, is among the best young passers in the league, and with a dynamic young receiver like Amari Cooper catching passes, the sky is the limit for this team. And on defense, nobody is being groomed for a spot on this list more than young pass rusher Khalil Mack. Mack is really starting to come into his own, when he had that memorable five sack performance against the eventual Super Bowl Champions in Denver, something clicked. This guy is already freakishly good, and he’s only going to get better. One thing is for sure, this young Raiders team is full of talent and hope, and nobody is going to stop them from reaching their potential.
