Al Davis R.I.P.

botoan · Oct 8, 2011

Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis has died

Posted by Michael David Smith on October 8, 2011, 10:41 AM EDT

Al Davis, the Oakland Raiders owner who was one of the towering figures of professional football over the last half century, has died.

The Raiders’ web site has confirmed that Davis passed away this morning. He was 82.

In 1963, the Raiders, at the time a struggling franchise in the upstart American Football League, hired the 33-year-old Davis to be their head coach and general manager. He instantly reversed the team’s fortunes and was named the AFL’s Coach of the Year in their first season.

After three seasons as the team’s head coach, Davis briefly left to become commissioner of the AFL, and his aggressive approach in competing head to head with the NFL was one of the reasons that the NFL’s owners agreed to merge with their rival league. With that mission accomplished, Davis settled into a new role as managing general partner of the Raiders, a role he would stay in for the rest of his life.

On Davis’s watch, the Raiders won Super Bowls XI, XV and XVIII. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1992 and is the only person to serve as a personnel assistant, scout, assistant coach, head coach, general manager, commissioner and team owner.

Davis will be remembered as one of the greatest contributors to the game of football that the sport has ever seen.
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Al Davis hired Art Shell, the first African-American coach in the NFL and Tom Flores, who was the first Latino coach in the NFL. He made Amy Trask the first and only female CEO in NFL history in 1997.

He was called “the most inventive mind in the country” by Scholastic Coach Magazine.

I don't give damn how old he was, what he looked like or the color of his skin he was a hero of mine, May he rest in peace.

Soulthinker · Oct 8, 2011

He would be missed.

swirlman07 · Oct 8, 2011

I admired the man as well. His quote from back in the day still sticks in my mind, "Just win baby win". It's a good lesson to learn in many areas of life.

Stizzy · Oct 8, 2011

Man,, he will be missed

Tony Soprano · Oct 8, 2011

A true pioneer and one of pro-football's greatest icons. R.I.P.

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"Just win baby."

z · Oct 8, 2011

RIP

botoan · Oct 9, 2011

satyr · Oct 9, 2011

The JaMarcus Russell decision killed him.

botoan · Oct 10, 2011

Hue Jackson and the Oakland Raiders win one for Al Davis.

qnet · Oct 10, 2011

As a Chiefs fan I hate the Raiders but, have always admired Al Davis for what he did in the 70' & 80's. I love watching those old Raider stories by NFL films and, that kick ass theme song. R.I.P. Mr. Davis, the AFC west will never be the same.

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Al Davis R.I.P.

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