Raiders History
The Greatness of the Raiders
2018 Raiders Gameday 49
The Raiders — who began play in the American Football
League in 1960 — enter their 59th year of professional
football competition, including the last 48 as a member
of the National Football League.
In six memorable decades — the 1960s, ‘70s, ‘80s, ‘90s,
2000s and 2010s — the Raiders have been dominant in
professional football since Al Davis first pledged in 1963 to
build the finest organization in pro sports.
During these decades of dominance, the Raiders
have won an AFL championship, four American Football
Conference championships, and three world championships
of professional football, participated in five Super Bowls,
played in 14 championship games, won or tied for 17 division
championships, had 22 playoff seasons, finished 35 seasons
at .500 or better and played in 41 postseason games.
Pro football’s dynamic organization placed first in the AFC
West in 2000, 2001 and 2002 despite playing among the
toughest schedules in the NFL in each of those seasons. With
their appearance in Super Bowl XXXVII, the Raiders became
the first NFL team to have had a season end in the Super Bowl
in four different decades.
The Raiders are the only team to have been in Super Bowls
in the ‘60s, the ‘70s, the ‘80s and the 2000s.
The Silver and Black are the only AFC team — and one
of just two NFL teams (Minnesota) — to have a season that
advanced to the conference championship game in the ‘60s,
the ‘70s, the ‘80s, the ‘90s and the 2000s.
The Raiders are one of only three original AFL teams to
have captured three world championships of professional
football with Super Bowl victories. The Raiders are one of
only five AFC teams to have won more than one Super Bowl
since 1980.
In their five Super Bowl appearances, the Raiders have
been led by four head coaches and started four quarterbacks.
With four postseason victories, the Raiders were the first of
the AFC West teams to win multiple postseason contests in
the new millennium by six years.
Since 1963, when Al Davis first took over the failing
Oakland franchise that had struggled to win only nine of 42
league games in the initial three seasons of the new AFL and
pledged to build the finest organization in sports, the Raiders
have dominated professional football in terms of consistent
victory. During the memorable 58 years in Oakland and Los
Angeles, the Raiders have won 462 league games, tied 11
and lost 411.
“Commitment to Excellence” has never been an idle
phrase to those who have proudly represented the Raiders
organization during the ‘60s, ‘70s, ‘80s, ‘90s and the new millennium
as shown by their domination of pro football.
More than 20 of the great players who proudly wore the Silver and
Black, as well as Owner-Leader Al Davis and legendary Head Coach
John Madden, have been enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
The Raiders have also produced six Coaches of the Year.
In addition, 70 Pro Bowl players have earned 195 Pro Bowl
selections representing the Silver and Black. In 1970, as the Raiders
began their second decade of play, the merger between the AFL and
NFL became a reality on the field. In the 1970 through 2012 period of
interconference play, the Raiders have compiled a remarkable 92-77-1
record against present National Football Conference rivals.
Another innovation came to professional football in 1970 — “Monday
Night Football.” The Raiders’ domination of this prime-time television
series has seen the Silver and Black build an incredible 38-28-1 record
in Monday night play. In the 44 years of this series, the Raiders are 16-
8-0 in “Monday Night Football” games at home.
Through the decades — the ‘60s, ‘70s, ‘80s, ‘90s, 2000s and now
the 2010s — the Raiders have had the greatest players, the greatest
coaches, the greatest plays and participated in the greatest games in
the annals of professional sports.
Challengers to Raider domination of professional football will arise
as they have in the ‘60s, ‘70s, ‘80s, ‘90s and the new millennium. The
Raider organization will continue to meet these challenges.