The Las Vegas Raiders are a professional American football team in the National Football League (NFL). Based in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, they compete in the AFC West division. The team's home games are held at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nevada, while their headquarters are located in Henderson, Nevada.
The Raiders were established in Oakland in January 1960 and faced challenges due to NFL interference, resulting in limited player selection options.
The Raiders were officially founded on January 30, 1960, in Oakland, California.
Eddie Erdelatz was appointed as the Raiders' first head coach on February 9, 1960, after declining offers from other teams.
The Raiders played their first-ever regular-season game on September 11, 1960, as a founding member of the AFL.
Bud Foster and Mel Venter served as the radio announcers for the Raiders from 1960 to 1962.
From 1960 to 1962, the Raiders wore black and gold uniforms with Gothic numerals and helmets featuring a white stripe and no logo.
The Raiders' 1960 roster comprised 42 players, including a significant number of rookies and future key figures like Jim Otto and Tom Flores. The team concluded the season with a 6-8 record under Erdelatz.
In 1960, the team was founded as the Oakland Señors after a name-the-team contest. Following criticism and ridicule, the name was quickly changed to the Oakland Raiders.
The Raiders faced difficulties in their initial years (1960-1962), marked by poor performance and financial challenges.
The Oakland Raiders were founded and began playing in the American Football League (AFL) in 1960.
On January 17, 1961, following the departure of a partner, Valley, McGah, and Osborne purchased the remaining shares of the Raiders. Shortly after, Valley and McGah bought out Osborne, with Valley becoming the managing general partner.
Eddie Erdelatz was released from his position as head coach on September 18, 1961, after two games.
Marty Feldman was appointed as the Raiders' head coach on September 24, 1961, succeeding Erdelatz. The team finished the season with a 2-12 record.
After initially agreeing to join the AFL, owner Bob Winter reneged and joined the NFL, forming the Minnesota Vikings in 1961. The Vikings were never part of the AFL.
After splitting their first home season, the Raiders moved exclusively to Candlestick Park in 1961.
The Oakland Raiderettes, the cheerleading squad for the Raiders, were established in 1961.
The Raiders' struggle from 1986 to 1989 marked the first consecutive losing seasons since 1961-62.
The Raiders, founded as a new franchise in the AFL, faced early struggles due to limited access to quality players in the allocation draft after the Minneapolis franchise defected to the NFL.
Marty Feldman was fired after an 0-5 start in 1962. Red Conkright took over as head coach for the remainder of the season, leading the team to a 1-8 record and a final standing of 1-13.
The Raiders' challenging period, which began in 1960, concluded in 1962.
The Raiders' 2-14 record in 2006 was their worst since the 1962 season, highlighting the team's significant struggles.
The Raiders moved to Frank Youell Field in Oakland in 1962 as a temporary home while the Oakland Coliseum was under construction.
Following the 1962 season, Al Davis was hired as head coach and general manager, becoming the youngest person in professional football history to hold these positions.
Bud Foster and Mel Venter served as the radio announcers for the Raiders from 1960 to 1962.
In 1962, Al Davis was hired as head coach and general manager.
The Raiders' iconic silver and black uniforms were introduced in the season opener on September 7, 1963, replacing their previous black and white uniforms with gold trim.
Bob Blum and Dan Galvin took over as the radio announcers for the Raiders from 1963 to 1965.
The Raiders unveiled their iconic silver and black uniform design in 1963, featuring silver helmets and pants with black or white jerseys.
The arrival of Al Davis as head coach in 1963 marked a turning point, leading to improved performance and the implementation of the "vertical game" offensive strategy.
The rivalry between the Los Angeles Chargers and the Oakland Raiders traces back to the 1963 season when the Raiders pulled off two unexpected victories against the heavily favored Chargers. Both games involved impressive come-from-behind efforts by the Raiders in the fourth quarter.
When Al Davis became head coach and general manager in 1963, he changed the team's colors to silver and black and added the now-iconic Raiders logo to the helmet.
In 1964, the Raiders modified their white jerseys, changing the lettering and numbering style.
The Raiders experienced a setback in 1964, finishing with a 5-7-2 record after showing improvement under Al Davis.
The Raiders, under Rauch's leadership, matched their 8-5-1 record from 1965 but fell short of the playoffs.
The Raiders bounced back from their 1964 setback, achieving an 8-5-1 record in 1965.
From 1965 to 1971, the Raiders maintained a 14-game winning streak against the Denver Broncos.
Bob Blum and Dan Galvin took over as the radio announcers for the Raiders from 1963 to 1965.
Al Davis left his position with the Raiders in April 1966 to become the AFL Commissioner.
Al Davis left the Raiders to become AFL Commissioner, leading to John Rauch's promotion to head coach in April 1966. The AFL and NFL announced their merger two months later.
Al Davis rejoined the Raiders as a part-owner and head of football operations on July 25, 1966, after the AFL-NFL merger eliminated the commissioner position.
Despite matching their previous season's record, the Raiders missed the playoffs in 1966, finishing second in the AFL West Division.
Bill King began his tenure as the voice of the Raiders in 1966.
The Oakland Coliseum, the Raiders' new home, was completed in 1966.
The Raiders-Jets rivalry intensified when Raiders' Ike Lassiter broke Jets quarterback Joe Namath's jaw during a 1967 game.
With Daryle Lamonica as quarterback, the Raiders finished the 1967 season with a 13-1 record, winning the AFL Championship and advancing to Super Bowl II, where they were defeated by the Green Bay Packers.
The first exhibition game between the Raiders and 49ers took place in 1967, with the 49ers emerging victorious with a 13-10 score.
In 1967, Al Davis brought John Madden on board as the Raiders' linebacker coach.
The Raiders secured a commanding 40-7 victory against the Houston Oilers in the 1967 AFL playoffs, propelling them to Super Bowl II.
The Raiders made their first playoff appearance and secured their first and only AFL Championship title in 1967.
The Raiders finished the 1967 season with a 13-1-0 record, winning the AFL Championship before losing to the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl II.
The Raiders suffered a 33-14 loss to the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl II on January 14, 1968.
The Raiders-Jets rivalry continued in 1968 with the infamous "Heidi Game" and the Raiders' loss to the Jets in the AFL Championship.
The Raiders concluded the 1968 season with a 12-2 record, securing the AFL West Division title but losing 27-23 to the New York Jets in the AFL Championship Game.
The Raiders began sharing the Oakland Coliseum with the Oakland Athletics in 1968.
Al Davis, the Raiders' owner, coined the phrase "Raider Nation" in 1968.
From 1968 to 1977, the Raiders established a remarkable record of 16 wins and 2 ties against the San Diego Chargers, marking a period of significant dominance in the rivalry.
John Rauch stepped down as the Raiders' head coach on January 16, 1969, to accept the head coaching position with the Buffalo Bills.
On February 4, 1969, John Madden was named the sixth head coach of the Raiders, succeeding John Rauch.
The Oakland Raiders lost the 1969 AFL Championship game to their rivals, the Kansas City Chiefs, on November 23, 1969. The Chiefs went on to win the Super Bowl.
The Raiders secured a commanding victory against the Oilers on December 20, 1969, with a final score of 56-7 in the AFL Division playoff game.
The 1969 season marked the Raiders' last year in the AFL before the league merged with the NFL.
The Raiders continued their winning ways against the Oilers with a resounding 56-7 victory in the 1969 divisional playoffs.
The Raiders were defeated by the Kansas City Chiefs, led by coach Hank Stram, in the AFL Championship game on January 4, 1970, with a final score of 17-7.
The Raiders defeated the Miami Dolphins 21-14 in the 1970 divisional round playoff game.
The Raiders' 2018 throwback uniform style was reminiscent of their 1970 road uniform set.
Following the AFL-NFL merger in 1970, the 49ers defeated the Raiders 38-7, intensifying the rivalry.
The Raiders briefly experimented with silver numerals outlined in black on their white jerseys during the 1970 season.
The AFL and NFL, which had announced their merger in 1966, officially merged in 1970.
The AFL and NFL officially merged in 1970, leading the Raiders to join the Western Division of the American Football Conference, which was essentially a renaming of the AFL West with the same teams as in 1969, except for the addition of the Cincinnati Bengals.
Following the AFL-NFL merger, the Raiders became part of the NFL in 1970.
The Raiders, after a long run of success, missed the playoffs for the first time since 1971, marking a significant shift in their performance.
The 1971 Raiders featured an impressive offensive line that included future Hall of Famers Art Shell, Gene Upshaw, Jim Otto, and Bob Brown, along with backup Ron Mix.
The Raiders' 14-game winning streak against the Broncos, which began in 1965, came to an end in 1971.
The Raiders reverted to black numerals on their white jerseys in 1971, a design element that has remained largely consistent.
On October 22, 1972, the Denver Broncos defeated the Raiders 30-23, ending the Raiders' 14-game winning streak against them, which had lasted since 1965.
Al Davis acquired ownership of the Raiders in 1972 and held it until his passing in 2011.
From 1972 onward, Davis exerted total control over the Raiders.
In 1972, while Wayne Valley was away, Davis's attorneys drafted a revised partnership agreement granting Davis control over the Raiders' operations. McGah signed the agreement, making it legally binding. Valley was upset upon discovering this and filed a lawsuit that was ultimately unsuccessful.
In the 1972 AFC divisional round playoffs in Pittsburgh, the Steelers defeated the Raiders on a controversial last-second play that became known as the "Immaculate Reception," widely regarded as one of the most famous plays in NFL history.
The Raiders argued that the 1972 partnership agreement amendment changed the nature of the ownership stake upon Ed McGah's death.
The Steelers and Raiders' rivalry began in 1972, sparked by a controversial last-second play in their first playoff matchup. Despite a 10-3-1 record and an AFC West title, the Raiders' season ended with a 13-7 loss to the Steelers, marred by the infamous "Immaculate Reception."
Due to a scheduling conflict with the Athletics, the Raiders played a regular-season game against the Miami Dolphins at California Memorial Stadium in Berkeley on September 23, 1973.
The 1970s mark the beginning of a period of significant dominance for the Raiders, with the team featuring eight future Hall of Fame players and a Hall of Fame coach in John Madden. Their reputation for hard-hitting play is solidified during this decade.
The Miami Dolphins defeated the Raiders 27-10 in the 1973 AFC Championship Game, avenging their previous playoff loss and advancing to Super Bowl VIII.
The Raiders had a strong 1974 season, achieving a 12-2 record that included a nine-game winning streak. They defeated the Dolphins 28-26 in a memorable divisional playoff game known as the "Sea of Hands" game. However, their season ended with a 24-13 loss to the Steelers in the AFC Championship. The Steelers went on to win the Super Bowl that year.
The rivalry between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Raiders in the 1970s was fueled by their status as two of the best teams in the AFC, and arguably the NFL. The winner of their playoff encounters, which happened five times in that decade, went on to win the Super Bowl on three occasions from 1974 to 1976. The rivalry was widely covered in sports media, often highlighting controversial plays, aggressive tackles, and public accusations, further intensifying the competition.
During the 1975 AFC Championship game, a significant moment occurred that fueled the Raiders-Steelers rivalry. Raiders strong safety George Atkinson delivered a powerful hit to Pittsburgh wide receiver Lynn Swann, resulting in a concussion for Swann.
The Raiders opened the 1975 season with a victory against the Miami Dolphins, ending their 31-game home winning streak. Despite an 11-3 record and a 31-28 divisional playoff win over the Cincinnati Bengals, they were defeated 16-10 by the Steelers in the AFC Championship, who went on to win the Super Bowl. The rivalry between the two teams intensified, becoming a classic example of a heated grudge match.
The rivalry between the Raiders and the Steelers was reignited in the 1976 season opener when Raiders safety George Atkinson, known for his aggressive play, delivered another hard hit on Steelers receiver Lynn Swann. This incident, following previous controversial hits by Atkinson on Swann, prompted Steelers coach Chuck Noll to label Atkinson part of the "criminal element" in the NFL. Atkinson responded by filing a $2 million defamation lawsuit against Noll and the Steelers, which he ultimately lost.
Wayne Valley sold his interest in the team in 1976. Despite only owning a portion, Davis maintained control.
The Raiders achieved victory in Super Bowl XI in 1976.
The Steelers-Raiders rivalry continued, with their games frequently determining who would advance to the Super Bowl.
The Raiders started the 1976 season with a 31-28 win against the Steelers, further solidifying their reputation for tough play when a hit by safety George Atkinson sidelined Steelers WR Lynn Swann for two weeks. The Raiders' season continued with 13 regular-season wins, a controversial 21-17 victory over the New England Patriots in the divisional playoffs, and a 24-7 victory against the Steelers in the AFC Championship. They then faced the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl XI, emerging victorious with a score of 32-14 to claim their first Super Bowl title and their first championship since the AFL-NFL merger.
The Raiders defeated the Patriots in a 1976 playoff game that became unofficially known as "The Ben Dreith Game" due to a controversial penalty call by referee Ben Dreith.
The Raiders consistently dominated the AFC West from 1973 to 1977, securing their place in the playoffs almost every season. Their powerful defense, spearheaded by players like Jack Tatum, George Atkinson, and Skip Thomas, made them a force to be reckoned with.
The Raiders' impressive streak of not losing to the San Diego Chargers, which included 16 wins and 2 ties, came to an end in 1977.
During a 1978 preseason game, Patriots wide receiver Darryl Stingley was tragically injured and paralyzed after a hit by Raiders safety Jack Tatum. Despite a 9-7 record, the Raiders missed the playoffs for the first time since 1971, marking the end of their long playoff streak.
The 1978 clash between the Raiders and the Chargers became infamous as the "Holy Roller" game. This game featured a highly controversial play in which the Raiders fumbled the ball for a touchdown.
The rivalry between the Raiders and Patriots intensified during a 1978 preseason game when Raiders safety Jack Tatum's hit on Patriots receiver Darryl Stingley resulted in permanent paralysis for Stingley.
After ten consecutive winning seasons and a Super Bowl victory, John Madden decided to step down from coaching in 1979 and transition into a career as a television commentator. Tom Flores, a former Raiders quarterback, was named as Madden's successor, making history as the first Hispanic head coach in the NFL. Despite a 9–7 record under Flores, the team did not make the playoffs.
Amidst attempts by Al Davis to relocate the team to Los Angeles, the Raiders achieved an 11-5 record and earned a wild card berth. Quarterback Jim Plunkett revitalized his career, stepping in when starter Dan Pastorini was sidelined with an injury. The Raiders defeated the Houston Oilers in the Wild Card game, followed by victories against the Cleveland Browns (14-12) and the San Diego Chargers to secure their spot in Super Bowl XV. They dominated the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl, winning 27-10 and becoming the first wild card team to win the Super Bowl.
In 1980, Al Davis sought to move the Raiders from Oakland to Los Angeles. Despite signing a memorandum of agreement, the move was blocked by league owners and an injunction, leading to antitrust lawsuits.
The Raiders defeated the Oilers 27-7 in the 1980 Wild Card playoffs.
The Raiders emerged triumphant in Super Bowl XV in 1980.
When the NFL prevented the Raiders from moving to Los Angeles in 1980, the team filed a lawsuit against the league.
In January 1981, the Los Angeles Chargers hosted their inaugural AFC Championship game, with their rivals, the Raiders, as their opponents. The Raiders emerged triumphant with a 34-27 victory, securing their place in Super Bowl XV, where they went on to defeat the Philadelphia Eagles 27-10.
Following their Super Bowl victory, the Raiders struggled in the 1981 season, finishing with a 7-9 record and missing the playoffs.
In May 1982, a jury ruled in favor of Al Davis and the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, allowing the Raiders to relocate from Oakland to Los Angeles for the 1982 season. This decision came after a series of legal battles and antitrust lawsuits.
On November 22, 1982, the Raiders hosted their inaugural Monday Night Football game in Los Angeles, facing off against the San Diego Chargers. Despite trailing 24-0 at halftime, the Raiders mounted a remarkable comeback in the second half, ultimately securing a 28-24 victory.
In 1982, the newly formed Los Angeles Raiders finished the strike-shortened season with an 8–1 record, winning the AFC West. However, they lost in the second round of the playoffs to the New York Jets.
The Raiders moved to Los Angeles in 1982, igniting the "Battle of Los Angeles" rivalry with the Rams.
The Raiders relocated from Oakland to Los Angeles, where they played from 1982 to 1994.
The Raiders relocated to Los Angeles in 1982, leaving the Oakland Coliseum.
Ed McGah, the last of the original owners, died in September 1983. His son, E.J. McGah, became the trustee of his interest in the team.
The Raiders secured a victory in Super Bowl XVIII in 1983.
In 1984, the Raiders had a successful regular season with an 11–5 record. However, a three-game losing streak led them to enter the playoffs as a wild-card team, where they lost to the Seahawks.
In 1985, the Raiders won 12 games and secured a division title. Marcus Allen was named MVP, but the team's postseason aspirations were cut short by a loss to the Patriots.
In 1986, Al Davis began seeking a new stadium for the Raiders, considering various sites in California. This move was driven by dissatisfaction with the aging Coliseum and its lack of luxury suites.
In 1986, Al Davis, the only NFL owner to do so, provided testimony in support of the United States Football League's antitrust lawsuit against the NFL.
In 1986, the Raiders began a period of decline, finishing no better than 8–8 until 1989. Al Davis had a public feud with Marcus Allen, accusing him of faking injuries. Bo Jackson was signed as a potential replacement.
The New England Patriots defeated the Los Angeles Raiders in the 1986 divisional round, with the game marred by a chaotic brawl between the teams, notably including Matt Millen attacking Patriots GM Patrick Sullivan.
In August 1987, the city of Irwindale paid Al Davis $10 million as a good-faith deposit for a prospective stadium site. When the bid failed, Davis kept the non-refundable deposit.
The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Commission received a $19.6 million settlement from the NFL in 1987.
In 1987, the Raiders signed Bo Jackson, who was also playing baseball for the Kansas City Royals. The NFL strike that year led to a disrupted season, with substitute players filling in during the strike period.
In 1988, the Raiders faced low game attendance and fan apathy. Rumors of a return to Oakland intensified, especially when a preseason game was scheduled at the Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum.
Prior to their victory on January 1, 2000, the Raiders' last win against the Chiefs in Kansas City was in 1988.
In January 1989, Al Davis began negotiations with Oakland to possibly bring the Raiders back. These negotiations would continue for over a year.
From 1986 to 1989, the Raiders posted consecutive losing seasons for the first time since 1961-62.
In 1989, after starting the season with a 1–3 record, Al Davis fired Mike Shanahan and replaced him with Art Shell, making Shell the first African American head coach in the modern NFL era. The team finished the season with an 8–8 record.
Mike Shanahan, who would later become the head coach of the Denver Broncos, was fired by the Raiders just four games into the 1989 NFL season.
On March 11, 1990, Al Davis announced his intention to bring the Raiders back to Oakland. However, numerous delays prevented the completion of the deal.
By September 1990, numerous delays had prevented the deal to return to Oakland. On September 11, Davis announced a new deal to stay in Los Angeles, leading to frustration among Oakland fans.
In 1990, the Raiders achieved a 12–4 record and won a playoff game against the Bengals. However, Bo Jackson suffered a severe injury, leading to a 51–3 blowout loss to the Bills in the AFC Championship. Jackson's injury ended his football career.
The Raiders' 2000 division title marked their first since 1990, highlighting a period of struggle for the team.
From 1990 to 1999, the Raiders endured a challenging period in their rivalry with the Chiefs, losing 17 out of 20 regular-season meetings.
On December 28, 1991, the Raiders lost to the Kansas City Chiefs 10-6 in the Wild Card round.
In 1991, the Raiders finished with a 9–7 record but struggled to find a reliable quarterback. They lost to the Kansas City Chiefs in the Wild Card game.
Bill King's time as the voice of the Raiders ended in 1992.
In 1992, the Raiders continued to struggle with quarterback issues, leading to a 7–9 record. They had two more playoff appearances in the 1990s but generally finished no higher than third place.
In 1993, with Jeff Hostetler as quarterback, the Raiders finished second in the AFC West with a 10–6 record. They won against the Broncos in the wild card game but lost to the Bills in a close match.
The 1994 season marked the end of the Raiders' time in Los Angeles.
Following a 9–7 record in 1994 and missing the playoffs, Art Shell was fired as head coach of the Raiders.
Both the Raiders and the Rams relocated from Los Angeles in 1994 due to declining attendance and stadium issues, effectively ending their rivalry.
As part of the NFL's 75th Anniversary celebration in 1994, the Raiders donned throwback uniforms inspired by their 1963 and 1970 designs.
After a successful football and baseball career, Bo Jackson retired from baseball in 1994 following his forced departure from football due to a severe hip and leg injury.
On June 23, 1995, Al Davis signed a letter of intent to move the Raiders back to Oakland. The move was approved by the Alameda County Board of Supervisors the following month.
Art Shell's first tenure as the Raiders' head coach ended in 1995 when he was fired.
In 1995, the Raiders returned to Oakland and began the season with an 8–2 record under new head coach Mike White. However, injuries led to a six-game losing streak, and the team finished 8–8, missing the playoffs.
The Black Hole, a section of the Coliseum known for its rowdy and passionate Raiders fans, emerged in 1995.
The Raiders returned to Oakland at the beginning of the 1995 season.
The arrival of Mike Shanahan as the Denver Broncos' head coach in 1995 marked the beginning of a dominant period for the Broncos in their rivalry with the Raiders. From 1995 to 2008, the Broncos secured 21 victories in 28 games against the Raiders.
Upon returning to Oakland in 1995, the team introduced costly personal seat licenses (PSLs) to help fund the Oakland Coliseum expansion. The PSLs, priced between $250 and $4,000, contributed to low attendance and were only valid for ten years.
On September 8, 1996, the Kansas City Chiefs took the lead in the overall series against the Raiders for the first time since November 23, 1969.
In 1996, The Raiders filed a lawsuit against the NFL, alleging that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' pirate logo and the similar colors used by the Buccaneers and Carolina Panthers diluted their trademark. The lawsuit sought to prevent these teams from wearing their uniforms in California.
The Raiders finished the 1996 season with a losing record of 7-9.
The Raiders struggled again in 1997, finishing with a disappointing 4-12 record under coach Joe Bugel.
The Raiders' 4-12 record in 2003 matched their worst performance since 1997, highlighting the team's struggles.
Tom Flores joined the Raiders' broadcast team as a commentator alongside Greg Papa, a role he held from 1997 to 2017.
Jon Gruden was hired as the new head coach. The Raiders finished the 1998 season with an 8-8 record.
The Raiders continued to show improvement under Gruden, finishing the 1999 season with another 8-8 record.
From 1990 to 1999, the Raiders endured a challenging period in their rivalry with the Chiefs, losing 17 out of 20 regular-season meetings.
A 1999 partnership agreement dictated the inheritance of Davis's ownership.
On January 1, 2000, the Raiders defeated the Chiefs in Kansas City for the first time since 1988, ending the game in overtime with a 33-yard field goal by Joe Nedney.
The Raiders, led by MVP Rich Gannon, achieved a 12-4 record in 2000, marking their best season in a decade. They secured their first division title since 1990 but fell short in the AFC Championship against the Baltimore Ravens after Gannon's injury.
The Raiders and Jets rivalry saw a resurgence in the 2000-2002 period.
A jury ruled in favor of the NFL in 2001, but the verdict was overturned a year later due to allegations of juror misconduct.
In 2001, the Raiders acquired Jerry Rice and finished with a 10-6 record. Their playoff run was marked by the controversial "Tuck Rule Game" against the New England Patriots, where a controversial fumble ruling went against the Raiders, leading to their defeat in overtime.
The Jets narrowly defeated the Raiders 24-22 in the final week of the 2001 season, but the Raiders won the Wild Card rematch 38-24.
On February 18, 2002, the Raiders made the significant decision to trade coach Jon Gruden to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in exchange for draft picks and cash, marking the end of an era for the team.
The Raiders defeated the Jets twice in 2002, once in the regular season (26-20) and again in the AFC Divisional Playoffs (30-10).
E.J. McGah, who was a limited partner, passed away in 2002.
The Raiders lost to the Patriots in the 2002 divisional round playoff game, famously known as the "Tuck Rule Game," where an apparent Tom Brady fumble was overturned, leading to a Patriots victory in overtime.
The Raiders triumphed over the Tennessee Titans (formerly the Oilers) with a 41-24 win in the 2002 AFC Championship Game, securing their place in the Super Bowl.
The Raiders won the AFC Championship title in 2002.
The Raiders' third-place finish in the AFC West in 2008 marked the first time since 2002 that they did not end the season at the bottom of their division.
The Raiders, under new coach Bill Callahan, continued their success in 2002, reaching Super Bowl XXXVII. However, they faced a crushing defeat against their former coach Jon Gruden and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
In October 2003, the McGah family filed a lawsuit against Davis, alleging mismanagement of the team.
The Raiders' lawsuit against the NFL, filed in 1996, was dismissed in 2003 on the grounds that the requested relief violated the Commerce Clause of the United States Constitution.
The Raiders struggled with low attendance from 2003 to 2005, ranking among the bottom three teams in the league.
Kerry Collins, after leading the New York Giants to Super Bowl XXXV, joined the Oakland Raiders following the 2003 season.
The BALCO scandal in 2003 involved several current and former Oakland Raiders players, including Bill Romanowski and Tyrone Wheatley, who were revealed to be clients of the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative (BALCO), a company distributing performance-enhancing drugs.
The Raiders experienced a downturn in 2003, finishing 4-12, their worst record since 1997. Coach Bill Callahan was subsequently fired.
A judge dismissed most of the McGah lawsuit in April 2004, stating a lack of merit because other partners did not join the lawsuit.
The Raiders struggled in 2004, finishing with a 5-11 record. Quarterback Rich Gannon suffered a career-ending neck injury during a game against the Buccaneers, leading to his retirement before the 2005 season.
A California Court of Appeal upheld the original verdict in favor of the NFL in February 2005.
Bill King, the longtime voice of the Raiders, passed away in October 2005.
The lawsuit with the McGah family was settled out of court in October 2005, with the terms remaining confidential.
On November 2, 2005, the Raiders reached a settlement in their lawsuit against the city of Oakland and the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Authority over the promise of sellouts for games, leading to the abolishment of Personal Seat Licenses starting in the 2006 season.
The Raiders took over ticket sales from the Oakland Football Marketing Association (OFMA) and eliminated PSLs in November 2005.
Rich Gannon's retirement from professional football became official before the start of the 2005 season, following a career-ending neck injury the previous year.
The Patriots defeated the Raiders 30-20 in the 2005 season opener, spoiling Randy Moss' debut as a Raider.
The Raiders attempted to bolster their offense in 2005 by acquiring Randy Moss and Lamont Jordan. Despite these efforts, they finished 4-12, leading to coach Norv Turner's dismissal.
The Raiders struggled with low attendance from 2003 to 2005, ranking among the bottom three teams in the league.
On February 11, 2006, Art Shell returned as the Raiders' head coach, marking his second stint with the team after being fired in 1995.
The team announced a reduction in ticket prices for most sections of the Oakland Coliseum in February 2006.
Davis unsuccessfully tried to sell the 31% ownership he acquired from the McGah family. The lack of control offered to a potential buyer was cited as a reason for the failure.
On January 22, 2007, Lane Kiffin was appointed as the Raiders' head coach, becoming the youngest coach in franchise history and the NFL at that time.
Due to their league-worst record in 2006, the Raiders earned the first overall pick in the 2007 NFL Draft for the first time since 1962.
On September 28, 2008, the Raiders wore their white jerseys at home for the first time in their history, a decision made by then-coach Lane Kiffin.
The New England Patriots defeated the Raiders 49-26 in December 2008, marking Bill Belichick's 100th regular-season win as Patriots coach.
Following a 1-3 start to the 2008 season, Lane Kiffin was fired as the Raiders' head coach after months of speculation and rumors surrounding his position.
The Raiders' 2008 season, while ending with a 5-11 record, marked their best finish since their Super Bowl appearance in 2002.
The Denver Broncos' period of dominance over the Raiders, which began in 1995 with the arrival of head coach Mike Shanahan, came to an end in 2008.
Tom Cable was officially named the 17th head coach of the Raiders on February 3, 2009, following his interim role after Lane Kiffin's departure.
Ice Cube released a song titled "Raider Nation" dedicated to the Raiders in September 2009.
On December 6, 2009, the struggling Raiders, with a 3-8 record, played spoiler to the defending Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers' playoff hopes. In a game that saw the lead change hands five times in the fourth quarter, a Louis Murphy touchdown with only 11 seconds remaining sealed a 27-24 victory for the Raiders.
The Raiders finished the 2009 season with a 5-11 record, mirroring their performance from the previous year.
The Raiders participated in the AFL Legacy Program in 2009, wearing throwback jerseys from the 1960s for games against other former AFL teams.
On October 10, 2010, the Raiders finally snapped their 13-game losing streak against the San Diego Chargers with a 35-27 victory, marking a significant moment in their rivalry.
The Pittsburgh Steelers delivered a resounding 35-3 defeat to the Oakland Raiders on November 21, 2010. This game rekindled the rivalry's history of intense physicality when Raiders defensive end Richard Seymour punched Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger after a touchdown.
The ESPN documentary "Straight Outta L.A.," part of the 30 for 30 series, was released in 2010, exploring the connection between the Raiders' image and the rise of N.W.A.
The Raiders achieved a unique distinction in 2010, becoming the first team in NFL history to go undefeated in their division but fail to qualify for the playoffs, finishing with an 8-8 record overall.
On January 4, 2011, head coach Tom Cable was informed by owner Al Davis that his contract would not be renewed, ending his tenure with the Raiders.
On January 17, 2011, it was announced that offensive coordinator Hue Jackson would be the next Raiders head coach. This marked the fifth head coach for the Raiders in seven years.
A press conference was held on January 18, 2011, to formally introduce Hue Jackson as the new Raiders head coach.
The Raiders-49ers preseason game on August 20, 2011, at Candlestick Park was overshadowed by numerous fights and a shooting incident, leading to the cancellation of future preseason games between the two teams.
Al Davis died on October 8, 2011, at 82. His wife, Carol, inherited his ownership in the Raiders.
Following Mark Davis's assumption of the team in 2011, relocation speculation surrounding the Raiders began.
The Patriots secured a victory against the Raiders with a score of 31-19 during the 2011 season.
Davis reportedly owned 47% of the team shares before his death in 2011.
Following Al Davis' death in 2011, control of the franchise passed to his son, Mark Davis, while ownership remained with his wife, Carol.
On January 6, 2012, the Raiders named Green Bay Packers director of football operations Reggie McKenzie as the team's first general manager since Al Davis.
On January 24, 2012, Reggie McKenzie hired Dennis Allen as the team's 18th head coach, making him the first defense-oriented head coach for the Raiders since John Madden retired after the 1978 season.
Before their 2020 victory, the Raiders' last win in Kansas City against the Chiefs was in 2012.
The Raiders wore black cleats during the 2012 and 2013 seasons as a tribute to their late owner, Al Davis.
The New York Jets defeated the Raiders 37-27 on December 8, 2013.
The team has consistently sold out games since 2013.
The Raiders' lease at the Oakland Alameda Coliseum expired at the end of 2013, further fueling relocation talks.
The Raiders wore black cleats during the 2012 and 2013 seasons as a tribute to their late owner, Al Davis.
During the 2013 off-season, the Raiders made significant roster changes, including signing multiple players and trading quarterback Carson Palmer to the Arizona Cardinals. They finished the 2013 season with a record of 4-12.
In the 2014 NFL Draft, the Raiders selected linebacker Khalil Mack and quarterback Derek Carr. Despite an 0-4 start to the season and an 8-28 record leading to the firing of head coach Dennis Allen, Carr started all 16 games, and Mack finished third in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting.
The Patriots defeated the Raiders 16-9 in a closely contested match during week 3 of the 2014 season.
The Raiders discontinued the PSL policy in 2014.
The Raiders reverted to wearing white cleats in 2014.
The Raiders' previous win against the Chiefs before their victory on October 19, 2017, was during the 2014 season.
On January 14, 2015, Jack Del Rio was hired as the new head coach of the Raiders, succeeding the fired Dennis Allen and interim head coach Tony Sparano.
The Raiders defeated the New York Jets 20-34 on November 1, 2015.
The Pittsburgh Steelers secured a hard-fought 38-35 win against the Oakland Raiders on November 8, 2015. Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown delivered an exceptional performance, catching 17 passes for 284 yards, setting both Steelers team records. Brown's 284 receiving yards also marked the seventh-highest single-game total in NFL history.
The Raiders pulled off a significant upset on December 13, 2015, defeating the favored Broncos 15-12. The Raiders' defense delivered a remarkable performance, limiting the Broncos to only four field goals. Linebacker Khalil Mack had a standout game with five sacks, tying Howie Long's record for most sacks in a single game.
Under new head coach Jack Del Rio, the Raiders improved their record from three wins in 2014 to seven wins in the 2015 season. Rookies Amari Cooper and Khalil Mack, along with Derek Carr and others, were selected for the Pro Bowl. Mack made history by being named to the AP 2015 All-Pro Team at two positions.
The Raiders unsuccessfully attempted to relocate back to Los Angeles in 2015 after a failed stadium project with the San Diego Chargers.
On January 12, 2016, NFL owners voted to allow the Rams to return to Los Angeles and approved a stadium project in Inglewood. The Chargers and Raiders were given conditional permissions to relocate if certain conditions were met.
In January 2016, billionaire Sheldon Adelson proposed a new domed stadium in Las Vegas. He reached out to the Raiders about partnering on the project.
In April 2016, Raiders owner Mark Davis pledged $500 million toward Sheldon Adelson's proposed stadium in Las Vegas if public officials agreed to contribute as well.
In June 2016, a group of investors led by former NFL stars Ronnie Lott and Rodney Peete proposed a new stadium to the city of Oakland to keep the Raiders in the city.
On November 28, 2016, the Raiders secured their first winning season since 2002 with a comeback win against the Carolina Panthers.
On December 20, 2016, the NFL announced that the Raiders would have seven Pro Bowl selections, the most since 1991 and the highest number for any team in the 2016 season.
As the fifth seed in the AFC, the Raiders faced the Houston Texans in the opening Wild Card round of the 2016 NFL playoffs. Significant injuries, including the loss of starting quarterback Derek Carr, led to a 27-14 loss.
The Raiders brought back their classic white jerseys with silver numerals for the NFL Color Rush initiative in 2016.
On January 12, 2017, the Chargers announced their decision to relocate to Los Angeles after failing to secure a new stadium in San Diego. The Raiders began exploring options for a permanent stadium solution, with Las Vegas and San Antonio as potential destinations.
NFL team owners voted to approve the Raiders' relocation to Las Vegas on March 27, 2017.
In June 2017, Beasley Media Group secured a two-year deal to become the Las Vegas flagship radio partner of the Raiders.
The Raiders defeated the Chiefs on October 19, 2017, marking their first victory against them since the 2014 season. The game came down to a game-tying touchdown on the last play, leading to a successful game-winning PAT.
On December 31, 2017, the Raiders fired head coach Del Rio following a disappointing 6-10 season, despite having given him a four-year contract extension before the season.
The Patriots defeated the Raiders 33-8 in a game held in Mexico City in 2017.
Tom Flores joined the Raiders' broadcast team as a commentator alongside Greg Papa, a role he held from 1997 to 2017.
In 2017, Forbes Magazine valued the Raiders at US $2.38 billion, ranking them 19th in the NFL. The team's planned relocation to Las Vegas and a new stadium significantly boosted their value.
On January 6, 2018, the Raiders announced the return of Jon Gruden as head coach after a nine-year stint with ESPN.
The 49ers defeated the Raiders 34-3 on November 1, 2018, marking the last "Battle of the Bay" game before the Raiders relocated to Las Vegas.
Greg Papa and Tom Flores were dismissed as announcers prior to the 2018 season, with Brent Musburger taking over as the voice of the Raiders.
In 2018, the Raiders once again upset the Pittsburgh Steelers, securing a late touchdown for a 24-21 lead in the fourth quarter. The game concluded with Steelers kicker Chris Boswell slipping and missing a game-tying field goal attempt. This game, the last time these teams met in Oakland, contributed to the Steelers' late-season struggles and their subsequent absence from the playoffs that year.
In 2018, the Raiders retired the white pants from the Color Rush uniforms but continued to wear the throwback white jerseys with silver pants and black socks.
KYMT "93.1 The Mountain" became the Raiders' flagship station in Las Vegas beginning with the 2019 season.
The Black Hole at the Oakland Coliseum ceased to exist after the Raiders' move to Las Vegas in 2019.
After nearly three years, the Raiders officially relocated to Las Vegas on January 22, 2020.
In 2020, the Raiders officially relocated to the Las Vegas area, making Allegiant Stadium their new home.
The Raiders planned relocation to Las Vegas was set for 2020.
The Raiders signed a deal with Lotus Broadcasting in 2020, making KOMP their flagship station and rebranding KBAD to KRLV Raider Nation Radio.
Derek Carr led the Raiders to a 31-28 victory over the Jets in 2020, throwing the game-winning touchdown to Henry Ruggs.
In 2020, the Raiders triumphed over the Chiefs, snapping a five-game losing streak and achieving their first win in Kansas City since 2012.
On October 11, 2021, Jon Gruden resigned as head coach following the release of emails containing racist, misogynistic, and homophobic language.
On November 2, 2021, Raiders wide receiver Henry Ruggs III was arrested and charged with multiple felonies after a fatal car crash. The Raiders subsequently released him.
On January 30, 2022, the Raiders announced the hiring of Dave Ziegler as general manager.
On January 31, 2022, the Raiders announced the hiring of Josh McDaniels as head coach.
On February 4, 2022, the Raiders announced the hiring of Patrick Graham as defensive coordinator.
The Raiders, after relocating to Las Vegas, defeated the Patriots 30-24, ending a streak of Patriots' victories and securing their first win against them since 2002. The game ended with a walk-off touchdown resulting from a failed lateral pass play by New England.
Brent Musburger's time as the voice of the Raiders concluded in 2022.
As of the conclusion of the NFL's 2022 season, the Raiders held an all-time regular season record of 497 wins, 458 losses, and 11 ties, with a playoff record of 25 wins and 20 losses.
On October 31, 2023, the Raiders parted ways with head coach Josh McDaniels and general manager Dave Ziegler.
On December 14, 2023, the Raiders set a franchise record for most points scored in a game, defeating the Los Angeles Chargers 63-21.
As of 2023, Al Davis's $18,000 investment in the Raiders in 1966 is equivalent to $169,034 due to inflation.
On Christmas Day 2023, the Raiders emerged victorious against the Chiefs, snapping another five-game losing streak in their rivalry.
The Raiders defeated the Jets 18-12 in 2023, preventing a potential game-winning Hail Mary pass.