If you’ve ever spent a Sunday afternoon in the Black Hole, you know that being a Raiders fan isn’t just about supporting a team. It’s a lifestyle, a commitment to a certain kind of renegade spirit that Al Davis baked into the organization's DNA decades ago. But if you look at the list of Oakland Raiders quarterbacks over the years, you start to see a strange, jagged timeline. It’s a mix of legendary Hall of Famers who redefined the position and a revolving door of "what-ifs" that can make even the most die-hard fan a little dizzy.
Honestly, the Raiders' quarterback history is basically the history of the NFL itself—shifting from the vertical "Mad Bomber" era of the 60s to the gritty, ball-control dominance of the 70s and 80s, and eventually into the high-volume passing games of the modern era.
The Legends Who Defined the Silver and Black
When people talk about the Raiders, the same few names always bubble to the surface. These aren't just guys who played the position; they’re icons.
Ken Stabler: The "Snake"
You can’t talk about this team without starting with Ken Stabler. He wasn't the tallest or the strongest, but man, he had a "clutch gene" that you just can't teach. Between 1970 and 1979, Stabler started 96 games for the Raiders, winning 69 of them. That’s a winning percentage of .724, which is just absurd when you think about the defensive gauntlet of the 70s AFC. He led the team to its first Super Bowl title (XI) and won the NFL MVP in 1974. Stabler threw for 19,078 yards and 150 touchdowns during his time in Oakland, and while his 143 interceptions might look scary to modern fans, that was just the price of doing business in an era where the deep ball was king.
Daryle Lamonica: The Mad Bomber
Before Stabler, there was Daryle Lamonica. Al Davis loved the long ball, and Lamonica was the human embodiment of that philosophy. From 1967 to 1974, he was the guy. He earned his nickname by constantly attacking downfield, leading the AFL in touchdown passes in both 1967 (30) and 1969 (34). His regular-season record as a starter was a staggering 62-16-6. He didn't get that elusive Super Bowl ring as a starter, losing Super Bowl II, but he set the standard for what a Raiders quarterback was supposed to look like: aggressive, fearless, and always looking for the knockout blow.
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Jim Plunkett: The Two-Time Champ
Plunkett is sort of the ultimate "Raiders" story. He was a former number-one overall pick who struggled in New England and San Francisco before finding a home in Oakland. He wasn't supposed to be the savior—he actually started the 1980 season as a backup to Dan Pastorini. But when Pastorini went down with a leg injury, Plunkett stepped in and led the team to a Super Bowl XV victory. He did it again a few years later in Super Bowl XVIII. He’s the only retired quarterback with two Super Bowl rings as a starter who isn't in the Hall of Fame. It’s a debate that rages on in every Raiders bar from Oakland to Vegas.
The Modern Era and the Volume King
As the team moved toward the end of its Oakland tenure, the game changed. Passing yards exploded.
Derek Carr
Whatever your opinion on Derek Carr, the numbers are the numbers. He is the franchise's all-time leader in basically every major passing category. Over nine seasons (2014–2022), Carr threw for 35,222 yards and 217 touchdowns. He was an ironman, starting 142 games and missing very few due to injury. The 2016 season remains the great "what-if" for Carr; he was playing at an MVP level, the team was 12-3, and then a broken leg in Week 16 ended a promising playoff run. He never quite found that same magic again under a rotating door of head coaches, but he provided stability for a decade when the team desperately needed it.
Rich Gannon
Gannon was a journeyman who didn't even arrive in Oakland until he was 34 years old. Most people thought his best days were behind him. Instead, he teamed up with Jon Gruden and put together a four-year stretch that was arguably the most efficient quarterback play in team history. He won the NFL MVP in 2002, throwing for a franchise-record 4,689 yards and leading the Raiders to Super Bowl XXXVII. While the ending of that Super Bowl was a nightmare (five interceptions), Gannon’s 45-29 record as a starter solidified him as a legend.
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Every Starting Quarterback in Oakland History (1960–2019)
The list of people who have taken snaps for this team is long. Some stayed for a decade; others were gone in the blink of an eye. To keep things clear, let's look at the primary starters and the "bridge" guys who filled the gaps during the Oakland years.
The Original Oakland Era (1960–1981)
The early years were defined by Tom Flores (who later became a legendary coach) and Cotton Davidson. They laid the groundwork before the Lamonica and Stabler years took the franchise to the moon.
- Tom Flores: 63 starts (1960–1966)
- Cotton Davidson: 20 starts (1962–1968)
- Daryle Lamonica: 84 starts (1967–1974)
- Ken Stabler: 96 starts (1970–1979)
- Dan Pastorini: 5 starts (1980)
- Jim Plunkett: 57 starts total (across two stints)
- Marc Wilson: 50 starts (1980–1987)
The Return to Oakland (1995–2019)
After a stint in Los Angeles, the Raiders returned to Oakland in 1995. This era saw a lot of volatility under center, punctuated by the brilliance of Rich Gannon and the longevity of Derek Carr.
- Jeff Hostetler: 55 starts (1993–1996)
- Jeff George: 23 starts (1997–1998)
- Donald Hollas: 6 starts (1998)
- Rich Gannon: 74 starts (1999–2004)
- Kerry Collins: 28 starts (2004–2005)
- Andrew Walter: 9 starts (2006–2008)
- Aaron Brooks: 8 starts (2006)
- Josh McCown: 9 starts (2007)
- Daunte Culpepper: 6 starts (2007)
- JaMarcus Russell: 25 starts (2007–2009)
- Bruce Gradkowski: 8 starts (2009–2010)
- Jason Campbell: 18 starts (2010–2011)
- Carson Palmer: 24 starts (2011–2012)
- Terrelle Pryor: 10 starts (2013)
- Matt McGloin: 7 starts (2013–2016)
- Derek Carr: 142 starts (2014–2022)
Why the JaMarcus Russell Era Still Stings
You can’t talk about the list of Oakland Raiders quarterbacks without mentioning the 2007 NFL Draft. JaMarcus Russell is often cited as the biggest "bust" in NFL history. It’s a harsh label, but the numbers are tough to argue with. He had a rocket for an arm, but he struggled with conditioning, work ethic, and the complexity of the NFL game. He finished his Raiders career with 18 touchdowns against 23 interceptions. His failure set the franchise back for years, leading to a desperate search for a replacement that saw the team cycle through guys like Bruce Gradkowski and a late-career Carson Palmer.
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Surprising Stats and Common Misconceptions
People often think of the Raiders as a team of "renegades" who just wing it. But when you look closer, the best quarterbacks in their history were actually incredibly disciplined.
- Efficiency over flash: Rich Gannon's 2002 MVP season featured a 67.6% completion rate, which was nearly unheard of at the time.
- The Blanda factor: George Blanda is a Hall of Famer who played for the Raiders from age 40 to 48. While he only started one game at QB for Oakland, he was their primary kicker and the "emergency" signal-caller who won several games with last-minute heroics.
- The Super Bowl drought: Since the return to Oakland in 1995, only two quarterbacks have actually won a playoff game for the team: Rich Gannon and Jeff Hostetler. That’s a staggering stat for a franchise with such a rich history.
What to Remember About the Raiders QB Legacy
Looking at the full history, it’s clear that the Raiders' success is tied directly to having a "personality" at quarterback. The team struggled most when they tried to plug in generic starters or project players who didn't fit the "Commitment to Excellence" culture. Stabler, Lamonica, and Gannon weren't just good; they were leaders who commanded the locker room.
If you're looking to dive deeper into the history of the Silver and Black, here are a few things you can do:
- Watch the 2002 Season Highlights: See Rich Gannon at his peak. It was a masterclass in the West Coast offense.
- Research the "Holy Roller": This 1978 play involving Ken Stabler is one of the most controversial and famous moments in NFL history.
- Compare Eras: Look at Daryle Lamonica's touchdown percentage versus Derek Carr's. You'll see how much the game has shifted from "all-or-nothing" deep shots to "take-what-the-defense-gives-you" efficiency.
The list of Oakland Raiders quarterbacks is more than just names on a jersey. It’s a map of the team’s identity through the decades. From the dirt infield of the Oakland Coliseum to the bright lights of the Super Bowl, these men carried the hopes of one of the most passionate fanbases in sports.