The Oakland Raiders

They were part of the western division along with the Cincinnati Bengals (1968), Dallas Texans (1960, now known as the Kansas City Chiefs), Denver Broncos (1960) and the Los Angeles (now San Diego) Chargers (1960). The Oakland Raiders have won one AFL championships and three AFL Western championships. The Raiders hold the record for the best season in AFL history recording a 13-1 season (thirteen wins one loss) in 1967. The Raiders joined the NFL (National Football League) in the 1970 merger between the NFL and AFL. The Raiders have since won three Super Bowls, four AFC championships and twelve AFC West championships. There are currently thirteen Oakland Raiders including eleven players, one coach and one owner in the NFL Hall of Fame.

During the first three years the Oakland Raiders struggled but in 1963 Al Davis was brought in as head coach and general manager. Al Davis quickly turned the Raiders into a winning team having only seven losing seasons between 1963 and 2002. Al Davis is currently the owner of the struggling Oakland Raiders.

In 1982 the Oakland Raiders made a move from Oakland to Los Angeles where they won their third Super Bowl. But things didn’t stay as good. Between the 1982 and 1995 the Raiders made just two playoff appearances. Al Davis then returned the team to Oakland. In 2000 under head coach John Gruden the Raiders won their first division title since 1990 which lead to a three year winning streak for them in the AFC West. Since the Raiders lost in Super Bowl XXXVII (2002) to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (who were coached by John Gruden) The Raiders haven’t had a winning season.

Recently 33 year old head coach Lane Kiffin was sacked and replaced by former offensive line coach Tom Cable. Cable has been involved in coaching for 21 years and played in the NFL for three years. Unfortunately Tom Cable lost his first game as the Raiders head coach on Sunday October 12th 2008 to the New Orleans Saints 34-3.