Al Davis facts for kids
Davis c. 1970
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| Personal information | |
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| Born: | July 4, 1929 Brockton, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Died: | October 8, 2011 (aged 82) Oakland, California, U.S. |
| Career information | |
| High school: | Erasmus Hall (Brooklyn, New York) |
| College: | Wittenberg University
(attended) Syracuse |
| Career history | |
| As coach: | |
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| As executive: | |
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| Career highlights and awards | |
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| Head coaching record | |
| Regular season: | 23–16–3 (.583) |
| Coaching stats at PFR | |
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Pro Football Hall of Fame
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Allen Davis (July 4, 1929 – October 8, 2011) was a famous American football coach and team owner. He was the main owner and general manager of the Oakland Raiders for 39 years. This was from 1972 until he passed away in 2011.
Before owning the Raiders, he was their head coach from 1963 to 1965. He also became a part-owner from 1966 to 1971. At this time, the Raiders were part of the American Football League (AFL). In 1966, he even served as the commissioner of the AFL.
Al Davis was known for his motto, "Just win, baby." Under his leadership, the Raiders became one of the most successful and popular teams in the National Football League (NFL). They had their best years in the 1970s and 1980s. During this time, they often made the playoffs and won three Super Bowl titles. He was honored by being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1992.
Davis was also a champion for civil rights. He refused to let the Raiders play in any city where black and white players had to stay in separate hotels. He was the first NFL owner to hire a black head coach (Art Shell). He was also the first to hire a female chief executive (Amy Trask). Plus, he was the second NFL owner to hire a Latino head coach (Tom Flores). He is the only person in NFL history to be an assistant coach, head coach, general manager, commissioner, and owner.
Contents
Early Life and Football Dreams
Al Davis was born in Brockton, Massachusetts, into a Jewish family. His father, Louis Davis, moved the family to Brooklyn, New York, in 1934. Young Al loved basketball and was known as a tough player. He was determined to play for Coach Al Badain at Erasmus Hall High School. Even though he was mostly a reserve player, Davis learned a lot from Badain's coaching style.
Davis graduated from high school in 1947 and went to Wittenberg University. He later transferred to Syracuse University. He tried out for various sports teams but didn't play much. However, he became very interested in football strategy. He would often watch the football team's practices and take notes. He also took special classes on football strategy.
Starting His Coaching Career
College Coaching Beginnings
After college, Al Davis wanted to be a coach. He got his first coaching job at Adelphi University in New York. He became the freshman football coach there in 1950.
Coaching in the Military
In 1952, Davis joined the United States Army. He quickly found a way to coach football for the military's teams. In 1953, he coached the football squad at Fort Belvoir in Virginia. Military football was very serious back then, with many talented players. Davis coached his team to a strong record of eight wins, two losses, and one tie. He often coached players who were higher in rank than him.
Scouting and Return to Colleges
After leaving the army, Davis worked as a scout for the Baltimore Colts. He used his knowledge of military players to help the Colts find new talent. In 1955, he became an assistant coach at The Citadel in South Carolina. The team had struggled before, but under Davis, they had a much better season.
Later, he became an assistant coach at the University of Southern California (USC) in Los Angeles. Davis was very good at recruiting new players. He once took a recruit to the Los Angeles Coliseum at night. He asked the student to imagine playing there in front of 100,000 fans. This helped convince the player, Angelo Coia, to join USC.
Becoming a Chargers Assistant
In 1960, Davis joined the Los Angeles Chargers as a backfield coach. The Chargers were part of the new American Football League (AFL). The AFL wanted exciting, high-scoring football. Davis helped create a powerful offense for the Chargers. The team won their division in 1960 and 1961.
Davis was also great at signing players. He once signed star wide receiver Lance Alworth right after his final college game. He didn't even let the other NFL team have a chance to talk to him!
First Time with the Raiders
Joining the Raiders
In 1963, Al Davis became the head coach and general manager of the Oakland Raiders. The Raiders were a new team in the AFL and had struggled a lot. They were the only team to have a losing record in the AFL's first three seasons. The team owner, F. Wayne Valley, said they needed someone who "wanted to win so badly, he would do anything." Davis was that person. He took full control over all football decisions.
Youngest Coach in the AFL
Davis immediately started to change the Raiders. He wanted to build a championship team. The Raiders used to wear old black and gold uniforms. Davis changed them to the now-famous silver and black. He felt these colors made the players look tougher.
He also brought in new ways to motivate his players. He used phrases like "commitment to excellence" and "We go to war!" The Raiders quickly improved. In 1963, they won 10 games and lost only 4. This was a huge improvement from their past seasons. Davis was named AFL Coach of the Year.
Leading the AFL
By 1965, the AFL was a strong rival to the NFL. The two leagues were fighting over players, which made salaries go up. On April 7, 1966, Al Davis was chosen as the new commissioner of the AFL. He was only 36 years old.
Davis was hired to be a "fighter" for the AFL. He started signing star players from the NFL to join AFL teams. This put a lot of pressure on the NFL. Because of this pressure, the two leagues decided to merge. The merger was announced on June 8, 1966. This meant the AFL commissioner job was no longer needed. Davis resigned from his role on July 25, 1966.
Back with the Raiders
After leaving his commissioner role, Davis returned to the Raiders. He became one of the main owners and was in charge of all football operations. He owned a 10% share of the team.
Under Davis's leadership, the Raiders continued to get better. With John Rauch as head coach, the Raiders won the AFL Championship in 1967. They then played in Super Bowl II but lost to the Green Bay Packers. The Raiders kept winning division titles in the next two years.
In 1969, John Madden became the Raiders' head coach. Under Madden, the Raiders became one of the most successful teams in the NFL. In 1970, the AFL and NFL officially merged. The Raiders joined the American Football Conference (AFC). They continued to be a dominant team, winning many division titles.
Al Davis Becomes Raiders Owner
In 1972, Al Davis became the main owner and general manager of the Raiders. He had almost complete control over the team. He was known for being very hands-on. He had more power over daily team operations than almost any other owner in professional sports.
Davis was famous for his unique style. He had slicked-back hair, dark sunglasses, and often wore tracksuits. He spoke with a Brooklyn accent.
Under Davis's control, the Raiders became incredibly successful. From 1967 to 1985, they won 13 division championships. They also won one AFL championship and three Super Bowls (XI, XV, and XVIII). They made the playoffs 15 times. The Raiders are one of only five teams to play in the Super Bowl in four different decades.
In 1992, Davis was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He was chosen by many Hall of Fame players to introduce them at their induction ceremonies. This showed how much respect they had for him.
Davis was also known for helping former players who were in need. He often did this quietly, without seeking attention. His belief was: "Once a Raider, always a Raider."
Moving the Team
Al Davis was involved in several legal battles during his time as owner. In 1980, he tried to move the Raiders to Los Angeles. The league tried to stop him, but a court ruled in his favor. The team then moved to Los Angeles for the 1982 NFL season.
In 1995, Davis moved the team back to Oakland. He had been unable to get a new stadium built in Los Angeles. He then sued the NFL, saying the league had stopped his efforts to build a new stadium. The case went on for many years, but the California Supreme Court eventually ruled against the Raiders in 2007.
Key Player Decisions
Davis made many important decisions about players. In 1980, he traded star quarterback Ken Stabler. This angered many fans. However, the new quarterback, Jim Plunkett, led the Raiders to win Super Bowl XV. They became the first wild-card team to ever win the Super Bowl.
Later, Davis benched star running back Marcus Allen for two years due to a contract disagreement. Allen was a Super Bowl MVP. Davis said Allen was "a cancer on the team." Allen later left the Raiders and played for the Kansas City Chiefs. He still made it into the Hall of Fame.
In 2002, Davis traded his head coach, Jon Gruden, to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In return, the Raiders received several draft picks and money. The Raiders then reached Super Bowl XXXVII that season. They faced Gruden's Buccaneers in the Super Bowl, but lost.
Challenging Times
After the Super Bowl loss in 2003, the Raiders started to struggle. They had many losing seasons. Their 2007 top draft pick, quarterback JaMarcus Russell, was considered one of the biggest draft disappointments in NFL history. Many people blamed Davis for these struggles. His famous motto, "Just win, baby!" was sometimes used to criticize him.
Civil Rights and Diversity
Al Davis was a pioneer in promoting civil rights and diversity in the NFL.
- In 1963, he refused to let the Raiders play a preseason game in Mobile, Alabama. This was a protest against Alabama's segregation laws. He demanded the game be moved to Oakland.
- He also made sure that black and white players on his team would not have to stay in separate hotels when traveling.
- Davis was the first NFL owner to hire an African American head coach, Art Shell.
- He was also the first to hire a female chief executive, Amy Trask.
- He hired Tom Flores, who was the second Latino head coach in the league.
Head Coaching Record
| Team | Year | |||||
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| Won | Lost | Ties | Win % | Finish | ||
| OAK | 1963 | 10 | 4 | 0 | .714 | 2nd in AFL Western |
| OAK | 1964 | 5 | 7 | 2 | .417 | 3rd in AFL Western |
| OAK | 1965 | 8 | 5 | 1 | .615 | 2nd in AFL Western |
| Total | 23 | 16 | 3 | .583 | ||
Death and Legacy
Al Davis passed away on October 8, 2011, in Oakland, California, at age 82. His death was caused by heart problems. He had also had skin cancer and throat surgery.
Many people shared their sadness and respect after his death. John Madden, a former Raiders coach, said, "You don't replace a guy like that." The Oakland Raiders honored him by wearing "Al" stickers on their helmets. The entire league also held a moment of silence.
Davis was survived by his wife, Carol, and their son, Mark. Mark took over his father's role as the managing general partner of the Raiders.
The "11th Man"
The day after Davis's death, the Raiders played the Houston Texans. In the final play of the game, the Raiders won with an interception. What was amazing was that the Raiders only had 10 defensive players on the field for that play. Many people, including the Raiders coach Hue Jackson, felt that Al Davis was the "11th man" on the field in spirit, helping the team win.
The Al Davis Memorial Torch
After Al Davis's death, his son Mark and the Raiders created the Al Davis Memorial Torch.
- The original torch was used at the Oakland Coliseum. A former Raiders player or coach would light it before each home game.
- When the team moved to Las Vegas in 2020, the original torch was moved to the team's headquarters.
- A new, much larger torch was built at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. This new torch is 85 feet tall and is the largest 3D printed object in the world.
Accolades
In 2003, Al Davis was inducted into the Southern California Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.
See Also
Images for kids
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Davis circa 1970
