The Raiders were founded in 1960; they were a charter member of the American Football League which formed that year and later merged with the NFL (1970).

Al Davis became head coach of the Oakland Raiders in 1963. He took control of a team that had gone 9-33-0 in its first three seasons and quickly turned them around, leading the Raiders to a 10-4 record in his first year, and, in the process, earning American Football League Coach of the Year honors.

In 2005, the Oakland Raiders traded linebacker Napoleon Harris (along with several draft-picks) to the Minnesota Vikings in exchange for premier wide-receiver Randy Moss.

In 1980, Jim Otto became the first Raider to be inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame. Otto played center for the Raiders from 1960-1974, during which time the Raiders won seven division championships and two AFL Championships. He played in nine AFL All-Star games and, after the AFL/NFL merger, in three Pro Bowls. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility.

In 1982, the Oakland Raiders moved to Los Angeles, California, where they stayed for more than a decade before returning to Oakland in 1995.

Tim Brown was the first Raider to rack up more than 10,000 career receiving yards. He finished his Raiders career with 1,070 receptions for 14,734 yards and 99 touchdowns. He also compiled 3,272 punt return yards as a Raider.

Jeff Hostetler was the Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders starting quarterback from 1993 to 1996. During that time, he completed 913 of 1,561 passes for 11,122 yards, 69 touchdowns, and 49 interceptions.

Oakland Raiders quarterback Rich Gannon was named NFL MVP in 2002 -- a season in which he completed 418 of 618 passes for 4,689 yards and 26 touchdowns. Gannon led the Raiders to their fifth Super Bowl appearance that year, where they lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 48-21.

Fred Biletnikoff, who made four key receptions, was named MVP of Super Bowl XI. Other key players in the game were running back Clarence Davis who rushed for 137 yards and cornerback Willie Brown who returned an interception 75 yards for the game-clinching touchdown.

On October 2, 1983, in a game against the Washington Redskins, Jim Plunkett completed a 99 yard touchdown pass to Cliff Branch, surpassing George Blanda's 94-yard pass to Warren Wells as the longest passing play in Raiders history.