The Las Vegas Raiders are a professional football team that plays in the American Football Conference (AFC) of the National Football League (NFL). They have won three Super Bowl championships and one American Football League (AFL) championship (1967). The 'The Raider Nation', as they are lovingly known by their names, are viewed by many as the “villains” of the NFL because of their historic tendency for rough play.
The fans call themselves the 'Black Hole', and their iconic 'Raiii-derrs' chant can be heard reverberating at the Allegiant Stadium along with the poem The Autumn Wind while the fans do the Shield Salute in solidarity with their players. The Raiders' uniform is predominantly black and silver, and hence are also known as the Men In Black and Silver. Their official mascot is Raider Rusher, a pirate-themed character, and the team's logo is inspired by a pirate wearing a football helmet.
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Dec 14, 2023; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Raiders tight end Michael Mayer (87) celebrates after scoring a touchdown with running back Zamir White (35) in the second quarter against the Los Angeles Chargers at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
Founded | 1960 (as a charter member of the AFL) |
Owner(s) | Mark Davis |
Team President | Sandra Douglass Morgan |
General Manager | Tom Telesco (appointed in 2024) |
Head Coach | Antonio Pierce (promoted full-time in 2024) |
Stadium | Allegiant Stadium |
Location | Paradise, Nevada (Las Vegas metropolitan area) |
Super Bowl Appearances | 5 (II – 1967 season, XI – 1976 season, XV – 1980 season, XVIII – 1983 season, XXXVII – 2002 season) |
Super Bowl Championships | 3 (XI – 1976, XV – 1980, XVIII – 1983) |
Conference Championships | 4 (1976, 1980, 1983, 2002) |
Division Championships | 15 (as of 2024 season) |
Playoff Appearances | 23 (as of 2024 season) |
Best Regular Season Record | 13–1 (1976 season) |
Notable Eras | John Madden Era (1969–1978), Tom Flores Era (1979–1987), Jon Gruden Era (1998–2001, 2018–2021), Derek Carr Era (2014–2022) |
Official Website | www.raiders.com |
The Raiders were established in Oakland, California, in 1960 as one of the eight founding teams of the AFL. After three losing seasons, the franchise hired Al Davis in 1963 to serve as the team’s head coach and general manager. He quickly turned the team into a contender. After a three-month stint as AFL commissioner in 1966, Davis became a part-owner of the Raiders and began buying out (and, in some cases, forcing out) the other owners, ultimately gaining complete control of the team in 1976. Davis had been long dissatisfied about the conditions of the Raiders’ home stadium when, in 1980, he signed an agreement promising to relocate the franchise to Los Angeles.
The NFL blocked the move, but Davis won a landmark antitrust lawsuit against the league in 1982, and the Raiders immediately moved. Over the years, Davis became disenchanted with the quality of the stadium in Los Angeles. In 1995, he moved the franchise back to Oakland. The Raiders struggled in the years after their second move. After years of failed negotiations with the city of Oakland over potential stadium upgrades or building a new venue, the franchise relocated to Las Vegas in 2020. In their initial season in Las Vegas, the Raiders improved to an 8–8 record but missed the playoffs again.
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NFL, American Football Herren, USA Jacksonville Jaguars at Las Vegas Raiders Dec 22, 2024 Paradise, Nevada, USA Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers 89 carries the ball against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the second half at Allegiant Stadium. Paradise Allegiant Stadium Nevada USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xKirbyxLeex 20241222_map_al2_027
The Raiders boast more than a dozen Hall of Famers and more than 50 notable players. Some of them are:
Legends:
Ken Stabler (QB)
Marcus Allen (RB)
Howie Long (DE)
Tim Brown (WR)
Charles Woodson (DB)
USA Today via Reuters
Dec 14, 2023; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) smiles after the game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
Current Stars (2025):
Maxx Crosby (DE)
Aidan O’Connell (QB) (Potential starter)
The Las Vegas Raiders have had a long and storied history in the NFL, which now spans three cities, two states, and over six decades. They have faced off against many teams over those years, but some matchups stand out more than others.
The rivalry between the Chiefs and Raiders is considered to be one of the NFL's most bitter rivalries. Since the American Football League (AFL) was established in 1960, the Chiefs and Raiders have shared the same division, first being the AFL Western Conference, and since the AFL–NFL merger in 1970, the AFC West. There were the Marty Schottenheimer years, where the Chiefs dominated the Raiders, and the feud erupted between Al Davis and running back Marcus Allen, and now things are starting to boil again. Perhaps a few wins by Las Vegas this season will get things back to where they were.
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KANSAS CITY, MO - OCTOBER 10: Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes 15 and Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby 98 go face to face during the second half on October 10th, 2022 at GEHA field in Kansas City, Missouri. Photo by William Purnell/Icon Sportswire NFL, American Football Herren, USA OCT 10 Raiders at Chiefs Icon202210100993
The Raiders-Broncos rivalry dates back to the 1970s, and the two franchises have been fighting it out like no other for over 50 years, often with division titles up for grabs. Since the NFL-AFL merger in 1970, the Raiders have won 13 division titles to the Broncos’ 15. The Raiders have gone to five Super Bowls, winning three, while the Denver Broncos have gone to seven and won three. The Raiders are 68-53-2 all-time vs. the Broncos and 1-1 in the playoffs.
This rivalry has been marked by explosive offenses, wild finishes, and playoff implications. The Raiders and Chargers, both founding members of the AFL, have long contested division bragging rights, and their matchups often decide postseason fates. With both teams formerly calling Los Angeles home, their rivalry also carries historical and geographical tension, despite the Raiders' move to Las Vegas.
This inter-conference rivalry emerged from brutal playoff showdowns in the 1970s. The "Immaculate Reception" in 1972 remains one of the most debated and iconic moments in NFL history, igniting a fierce postseason feud. Though they don’t meet regularly, every Raiders-Steelers game recalls a golden era of physical football. The legacy of their postseason wars continues to stir emotions for both fan bases.