Oakland Raiders cornerback Charles Woodson intercepts a Hail Mary pass from Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Jon Kitna to end the game.

 

Although the AFL was formally organized on August 14, 1959, the Oakland Raiders did not become the eighth member of the new league until January 1960. The Raiders were selected as a replacement for the Minneapolis franchise, which had defected to the NFL. Oakland's record in its first three seasons was a miserable 9-33-0 and they averaged fewer than 11,000 fans per game.

 

The Raiders stopped the bleeding almost immediately in 1963 when they hired Al Davis, a San Diego assistant, to be their new coach. After a 1-13 season in 1962, Oakland improved to 10-4 in 1963, and Davis was named the AFL Coach of the Year. Since that time, the Raiders's fortunes have been the exclusive responsibility of Davis, who has been with the team virtually ever since. (In 1966, he left the team briefly to act as commissioner of the AFL.)

Under Davis's guidance, the Raiders have been one of football's premier organizations. Beginning in 1965, the Raiders had winning records in 19 of the next 20 years. Over that time, they won 12 division championships, the 1967 AFL championship, AFC championship in 1976, 1980 and 1983 and they won Super Bowls XI, XV and XVIII. They are the only team to play in the Super Bowl in the 1960's, 1970's and 1980's. In the 30-year period between 1963 and 1992, the Raiders's record 285-146-11 (.661) ranks as the best among all major sports teams.

 

Oakland Raiders WR Jerry Rice is brought down by Tennessee Titans CB Samari Rolle.

 

While Davis stresses a "Commitment to Excellence" for his entire organization, credit for much of the Raiders's unprecedented success must be given to its many outstanding players and coaches. In addition to Davis himself, eight players— Jim Otto, George Blanda, Willie Brown, Gene Upshaw, Art Shell, Fred Biletnikoff, Ted Hendricks and Mike Haynes—have been elected to the Hall of Fame. Five Raider coaches have been named either AFL or NFL Coach of the Year—Davis, John Rauch, John Madden, Tom Flores and Shell.