Honestly, if you look at the history of the Silver and Black, it’s basically a soap opera with shoulder pads. The Oakland Raiders former quarterbacks aren't just names on a stat sheet. They’re a collection of castoffs, wild cards, and left-handed renegades who somehow embodied the "Commitment to Excellence" while mostly living on the edge.
People love to talk about the rings. But the path to those Super Bowl trophies was messy. It involved benchings, trades for aging veterans, and Al Davis’s obsession with the vertical passing game—throwing it deep even when a short check-down was the smart move.
The Rebel King: Ken Stabler and the 70s Dynasty
Ken "Snake" Stabler was the guy. He wasn't just a quarterback; he was the personification of 1970s Oakland. He didn't have the strongest arm in the league. Far from it. But Stabler had this uncanny, almost psychic accuracy. He’d just sort of flick his wrist, and the ball would settle right into Fred Biletnikoff's hands.
The 1974 season was his masterpiece. He won the NFL MVP and led the league in touchdown passes with 26. He did it all while sporting a beard that looked like it belonged in a Northern California dive bar.
Key Moments from the Snake Era
- The Sea of Hands: The 1974 playoff win against the Dolphins where he threw a desperation touchdown to Clarence Davis while being tackled.
- Super Bowl XI: A 32–14 destruction of the Vikings. Stabler didn't have to do everything, but he was the cool head that finally got John Madden over the hump.
- The Holy Roller: In 1978 against San Diego, Stabler fumbled the ball forward on purpose as he was being sacked. Pete Banaszak swatted it, Dave Casper kicked it into the end zone and fell on it. Touchdown. Raiders win. The NFL literally changed the rules because of this play.
Stabler finished his Raiders career with 150 touchdowns and 19,078 yards. He was eventually inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2016, a year after he passed away from colon cancer. Researchers later found he had Stage 3 CTE, adding a somber layer to the legacy of a man who played the game with zero fear.
The Mad Bomber and the Vertical Dream
Before Stabler, there was Daryle Lamonica. If Al Davis could have built a quarterback in a lab, it would have been Lamonica. He was nicknamed the "Mad Bomber" because he basically refused to throw anything under 15 yards.
He was acquired in a 1967 trade with the Buffalo Bills that sent Tom Flores the other way. It was a heist. In his first year in Oakland, Lamonica went 13–1 and took the team to Super Bowl II. He was a two-time AFL MVP (1967 and 1969) and led the league in passing yards and touchdowns multiple times.
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You’ve gotta respect the sheer audacity of his playstyle. In 1969, he threw 34 touchdowns. He also threw 25 interceptions. He didn't care. He was going to keep chucking it deep to Cliff Branch or Warren Wells until the defense broke.
Jim Plunkett: The Ultimate Comeback Story
If you want to talk about Oakland Raiders former quarterbacks who defined "Just Win, Baby," you have to talk about Jim Plunkett. By 1980, Plunkett was considered a "bust." He was a former Heisman winner and #1 overall pick who had been beaten up in New England and discarded by San Francisco.
He was sitting on the Raiders' bench as a backup to Dan Pastorini. Then Pastorini broke his leg in Week 5 against the Chiefs.
Plunkett stepped in, and the world changed. He led the Raiders to a Wild Card berth and then rattled off four straight playoff wins, culminating in a Super Bowl XV victory over the Eagles. He was the game's MVP, throwing for 261 yards and three scores. He’s still the only Hispanic quarterback to win Super Bowl MVP.
He did it again in 1983. Another Super Bowl, another ring (XVIII against Washington). Plunkett wasn't a stat machine. His career completion percentage was a modest 52.5%. But when the lights were brightest, he was nails.
Rich Gannon and the Modern Renaissance
Fast forward to 1999. The Raiders signed Rich Gannon, a 33-year-old journeyman who had bounced around Minnesota and Kansas City. Most people thought he was just a "bridge" quarterback.
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Instead, Gannon became the most efficient passer in team history. Under Jon Gruden’s West Coast offense, Gannon became a four-time Pro Bowler.
The 2002 MVP Season
- Passing Yards: 4,689 (Led the NFL)
- Completions: 418 (NFL Record at the time)
- Record: 11–5 and an AFC Championship
- Hardware: NFL MVP
Gannon's Raiders career ended painfully in Super Bowl XXXVII against his former coach, Jon Gruden. The Buccaneers knew all the signals. Gannon threw five interceptions in that game. It was a brutal end to a brilliant run, but you can’t argue with 17,585 yards and 114 touchdowns in just six seasons.
The Record Breaker: Derek Carr
Derek Carr is a polarizing figure for Raider Nation. Some see him as the guy who stabilized a franchise that spent a decade in the wilderness after Gannon retired. Others see the lack of playoff wins as a failure.
Regardless of how you feel, Carr owns the record book. He is the franchise's all-time leader in:
- Passing Yards: 35,222
- Completions: 3,201
- Touchdowns: 217
Carr was the ultimate "what if" in 2016. He was an MVP candidate, the Raiders were 12–3, and everything was clicking. Then, on Christmas Eve, he broke his leg against the Colts. The season died that day. He never quite regained that specific magic in Oakland, eventually moving with the team to Vegas before being released in early 2023.
The Weird and the Wild: Blanda and the Rest
We can't ignore the oddities. George Blanda was 43 years old in 1970 and somehow won the NFL Player of the Year. He was the backup quarterback and the starting kicker. In one five-week stretch, he repeatedly came off the bench to throw late touchdowns or kick game-winning field goals. It was pure insanity.
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Then there’s Tom Flores. Before he was a Hall of Fame coach, he was the first starting quarterback in Raiders history. He threw for 92 touchdowns in the early 60s. He’s one of only two people in NFL history to win a Super Bowl as a player, assistant coach, and head coach.
And, of course, the JaMarcus Russell era. 2007 to 2009. It’s the dark spot on the resume. The #1 overall pick who couldn't stay in shape or learn the playbook. He’s often cited as the biggest bust in NFL history, and honestly, it’s hard to argue otherwise.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Collectors
- Jersey Hunting: If you're looking for authentic vintage gear, the 1970s Stabler jerseys with the mesh fabric are the holy grail of Raiders memorabilia.
- Stat Reality: Don't let Carr's volume stats fool you. When comparing eras, Stabler’s 1974 season is statistically more impressive because of how much harder it was to pass in that era.
- Film Study: If you want to see the "Mad Bomber" in action, look up highlights of the 1968 "Heidi Game." It shows exactly why Lamonica was so dangerous (and frustrating).
The lineage of Oakland Raiders former quarterbacks is basically a history of the NFL’s evolution. From the vertical bombs of the AFL to the gritty 80s and the high-volume 2000s, the Raiders have always prioritized personality over polish.
Whether it was Stabler’s left-handed magic or Plunkett’s resilience, these guys didn't just play for Oakland. They were Oakland.
Next Steps for Deep Diving into Raiders History:
Track down a copy of the 1976 season highlight film "The 11th Game" to see Ken Stabler at the absolute peak of his powers. If you want a more modern perspective, compare Rich Gannon's 2002 MVP film with Derek Carr's 2016 run to see how the Raiders' offensive identity shifted from the West Coast system back to Al Davis's preferred vertical threats.