The US Athletic Hall of Fame - Contributors 2023
Al Davis
- Contest: The US Athletic Hall of Fame - Contributors 2023
- Embed from Getty Images
- Sport(s): Football Owner, Executive, and Coach
-
Statistics:
3 Super Bowls (XI, XV & XVIII)
1 AFL Coach of the Year Award (1963)
1 The Sporting News Executive News of the Year (1976)
23-16-3 Record
Member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame -
Just win, baby.
This was the mantra of Al Davis, who may not have founded the Raiders, but he became to be their embodiment.
Davis joined the Raiders as the head coach in 1962 and was given complete control by Raiders owner, F. Wayne Valley. Named the AFL Coach of the Year in 1963, Davis was asked to become the commissioner of the league. His work expedited the expected merger between the NFL and AFL, and after a year, he went back to the Raiders, but now as a part-owner.
It would not be long before Davis became the owner, and the Raider philosophy was his creation. The Raiders won three Super Bowls under Davis, and while he was considered a renegade, there was no owner who wanted to win more. Notably, he was the first to hire an African-American head coach (Art Shell), a Latino head coach (Tom Flores), and a female chief executive (Amy Trask). None of those hires was to fill a quota. It was because he thought they were the best candidate for the job.
Davis is the only person in football who was once a personnel assistant, scout assistant coach, head coach, general manager, commissioner, chief executive officer, and owner. It is safe to say that won't happen again.
We are proud to nominate Al Davis for the United States Athletic Hall of Fame.
Powered by NorrCompetition