gpikeAl Davis dead at the age of 82
October 8th 2011 18:52
The Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis died early Saturday morning at the age of 82. The NFL will honor Davis with a moment of silence before each game on Sunday.
Davis began as an assistant coach with Baltimore in the NFL or AFL as the two leagues had not yet merged at the age of 24. His time with the Raiders started in 1963 as a youngest general manager- head coach in pro football history at the age of 27. Davis had a record of 23-16-3 for the first three years as a coach at the Raiders. Davis then bought into the franchise and soon became a managing partner. Davis soon became the commissioner of the AFL. The two sides merged in 1970.
He later won three Super Bowls with the franchise in 1976, 1980, and 1983. Davis hired a number of interesting coaches throughout his time at the team. John Madden, Jon Gruden, Lane Kiffin and Art Shell, the first black head coach in league history back in 1988. He was always a very hands-on owner, ending many coaches times at the team maybe before they should of been. Tom Cable who brought the Raiders back to a respectable 8-8 last year was fired. He brought the team to Los Angeles via courtroom drama, only to bring them back again to Oakland.
The Raiders last made the Super Bowl in 2002 with Gruden at the helm. Ever since this point, the Raiders have struggled as Davis has made mind boggling moves, often siding with speed over talent. Though the team seems to have turned a corner here starting with last year and the current season.
Davis was a very unique owner, someone who was always willing to change the norms. He will be missed as an owner and personality on the field and off.
Davis began as an assistant coach with Baltimore in the NFL or AFL as the two leagues had not yet merged at the age of 24. His time with the Raiders started in 1963 as a youngest general manager- head coach in pro football history at the age of 27. Davis had a record of 23-16-3 for the first three years as a coach at the Raiders. Davis then bought into the franchise and soon became a managing partner. Davis soon became the commissioner of the AFL. The two sides merged in 1970.
He later won three Super Bowls with the franchise in 1976, 1980, and 1983. Davis hired a number of interesting coaches throughout his time at the team. John Madden, Jon Gruden, Lane Kiffin and Art Shell, the first black head coach in league history back in 1988. He was always a very hands-on owner, ending many coaches times at the team maybe before they should of been. Tom Cable who brought the Raiders back to a respectable 8-8 last year was fired. He brought the team to Los Angeles via courtroom drama, only to bring them back again to Oakland.
The Raiders last made the Super Bowl in 2002 with Gruden at the helm. Ever since this point, the Raiders have struggled as Davis has made mind boggling moves, often siding with speed over talent. Though the team seems to have turned a corner here starting with last year and the current season.
Davis was a very unique owner, someone who was always willing to change the norms. He will be missed as an owner and personality on the field and off.
Al Davis died on Saturday at the age of 82
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