Silver and Black

Lore & Background

The Raiders' on-field fortunes have varied considerably over the years. The team's first three years of operation were marred by poor performance, financial difficulties, and spotty attendance. In 1963, the Raiders' fortunes improved dramatically with the introduction of head coach (and eventual owner and general manager) Al Davis. Since 1963, the team has won 15 division titles (3 AFL and 12 NFL), one AFL championship (1967), four AFC championships (1976, 1980, 1983, and 2002), and three Super Bowl championships: XI (1976), XV (1980), and XVIII (1983).

As of the end of the NFL's 2024 season, the Raiders have an all-time regular season record of 509 wins, 480 losses, and 11 ties; their all-time playoff record currently stands at 25 wins and 20 losses. Al Davis owned the team from 1972 until his death in 2011. Control of the franchise was then given to Al's son Mark Davis, with Al's wife Carol maintaining ownership. The Raiders are known for their extensive fan base and distinctive team culture.

The Raiders have had 17 former players who have been enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame as well as two former coaches and Al Davis. They have previously played at Kezar Stadium and Candlestick Park in San Francisco, Frank Youell Field and the Oakland Coliseum in Oakland, and the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles. In December 2024, the Raiders were among the first teams in NFL history to sell an ownership stake to outside private equity investors. 15% of the franchise was sold, which includes Tom Brady and his business partner, Tom Wagner of Knighthead Capital, gaining a 10% ownership stake.

Reader's Guide

The city of Oakland, California was awarded the eighth American Football League (AFL) franchise on January 30, 1960. Upon receiving the franchise, a meeting of local civic leaders and businessmen was called, chaired by former U.S. Senator William Fife Knowland of California, editor of the Oakland Tribune. The gathering found a number of businessmen willing to invest in the new team. A limited partnership was formed to own the team headed by managing general partner Y. Charles (Chet) Soda, a local real estate developer, and included general partners Ed McGah, Oakland City Councilman Robert Osborne, F. Wayne Valley, restaurateur Harvey Binns, 1928 Olympic gold medalist Donald Blessing, and contractor Charles Harney, the builder of San Francisco's Candlestick Park, built on a bleak parcel of land he owned; the road leading to the stadium is known as Harney Way.

A 'name the team' contest was held by the Oakland Tribune, and the winner was announced April 4, 1960, as the Oakland Señors. After a few days of being the butt of local jokes (and accusations that the contest was fixed, as Soda was fairly well known within the Oakland business community for calling his acquaintances 'señor'), the fledgling team (and its owners) changed the team's name nine days later to the Oakland Raiders, which had finished third in the naming contest.

The original team colors were black, gold and white. The now-familiar team emblem of a pirate (or 'raider') wearing a football helmet was created, reportedly a rendition of actor Randolph Scott. When the University of California refused to let the Raiders play home games at Memorial Stadium in Berkeley, they chose Kezar Stadium in San Francisco as their home field. The Raiders were allowed to move to Candlestick Park for the final three home games of the 1960 season after gaining the approval of San Francisco's Recreation and Park Commission, marking the first time that professional football would be played at the new stadium.

The change of venue, however, failed to attract larger crowds. The Raiders finished their first campaign with a 6–8 record, and lost $500,000, equivalent to $5.44 million in 2025. Desperately in need of money to continue running the team, Valley received a $400,000 loan from Buffalo Bills founder Ralph Wilson, equivalent to $4.35 million in 2025.

Did You Know?

• The original team colors were black, gold and white, not silver and black; Al Davis changed them to silver and black in 1963.
• Al Davis purchased a 10 percent interest in the team in 1966 for $18,000, equivalent to about $178,615 in 2025.

Franchise Origins and Early Struggles

Established on January 30, 1960, as an eighth charter member of the American Football League, the franchise initially faced a tumultuous beginning in Oakland. A local naming contest originally selected "Señors," but public ridicule forced a rapid rebranding to the Raiders just nine days later. The team's early years were defined by financial instability and poor on-field results; their inaugural season ended with a 6–8 record and a half-million-dollar loss, necessitating an emergency loan from Buffalo Bills founder Ralph Wilson.

Home field logistics were equally chaotic, as the University of California denied access to Memorial Stadium in Berkeley. Consequently, the team played at Kezar Stadium before moving to Candlestick Park for only three games in their first year. By 1962, they occupied Frank Youell Field while awaiting a permanent stadium, enduring a historic 19-game losing streak that highlighted the franchise's precarious existence before any major turnaround occurred.

The Al Davis Era and Championship Success

The trajectory of the franchise shifted dramatically in 1963 with the hiring of Al Davis as head coach and general manager. At just 33 years old, Davis became the youngest person in decades to hold such a position, steering the team away from its initial failures toward sustained excellence. Under his leadership, which eventually extended to full ownership from 1972 until his death in 2011, the Raiders captured three Super Bowl titles in XI, XV, and XVIII, alongside one AFL championship in 1967. The organization secured a total of 15 division titles across both leagues and four AFC championships during this golden period. Davis's influence was so profound that he became the first coach enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame for his role with the team, cementing a legacy where the franchise transformed from a struggling startup into one of the NFL's most decorated dynasties.

Modern Ownership and Cultural Legacy

The Raiders maintain a distinctive identity characterized by an extensive fan base and a deep roster of Hall of Fame inductees, including 17 former players and two coaches. Following Al Davis's passing in 2011, control passed to his son Mark Davis, with his widow Carol retaining ownership interests. In a historic move for the league during December 2024, the franchise became one of the first NFL teams to sell an equity stake to outside private investors. This transaction involved selling 15% of the team, granting Tom Brady and his business partner Tom Wagner of Knighthead Capital a combined 10% ownership share. Despite these modern financial evolutions, the team continues to uphold its unique culture while navigating the complexities of professional sports in the Las Vegas market.