If you walk into Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas or look back at the grainy footage of the old Oakland Coliseum, you’ll notice something weird. Or rather, you’ll notice something missing. Every other legendary franchise in the NFL has a ring of honor or a set of giant jerseys dangling from the ceiling. The Bears have nearly twenty. The Giants have a dozen. But the Oakland Raiders retired jerseys count is zero.
Zip. Nada.
It’s one of those things that drives modern sports fans crazy. We live in an era where a guy plays three good seasons and teams start talking about "honoring his legacy." Not the Raiders. This organization, birthed from the rebellious spirit of Al Davis, has a strict, almost stubborn policy: they do not retire numbers.
The Al Davis Philosophy
Why? Honestly, it’s about the team. Al Davis was obsessed with the idea that the "Raider Mystique" belonged to the Silver and Black, not to an individual. He believed the jersey was a uniform, not a monument. If you retire Jim Otto’s 00 or Gene Upshaw’s 63, you’re basically saying that the number is more important than the guy currently wearing it.
To Al, that was blasphemy.
Davis wanted every player who put on that helmet to feel the weight of those who came before them. If a young interior lineman wears 63 today, he isn’t just wearing a number; he’s supposed to feel the pressure of playing like Upshaw. It’s a passing of the torch, albeit a very heavy and intimidating one.
The Guys Who Would’ve Been First
If the Raiders actually did things like "normal" teams, the list of Oakland Raiders retired jerseys would be a mile long. You have to start with Jim Otto. The man played 210 consecutive games. He was the literal foundation of the American Football League. He wore "00." It is one of the most iconic looks in sports history. In any other city, that number would have been encased in glass the second he hung up his cleats in 1974.
Then there’s Gene Upshaw and Art Shell. The left side of that offensive line was a fortress. You could argue they are the greatest duo to ever play next to each other. Shell eventually coached the team, and Upshaw went on to lead the NFLPA. They are Raiders royalty.
And don’t even get me started on the skill positions.
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Fred Biletnikoff. Cliff Branch. Marcus Allen.
Marcus Allen’s relationship with Al Davis was... complicated. That’s putting it lightly. They hated each other for years. Even if the Raiders did retire numbers, Al probably would’ve skipped 32 just to spite Marcus. But for the fans? Seeing 25 (Biletnikoff) or 21 (Branch) back on the field feels like a link to a different era. Branch, specifically, was the vertical threat that defined "Raider Football" for a generation. When he finally made the Hall of Fame posthumously, the conversation about his jersey number 21 reignited. Yet, the Raiders remained silent.
The Unofficial Retirement
Even though there are no "official" Oakland Raiders retired jerseys, there is a weird, silent rule about some numbers. They call it "unofficial retirement."
Basically, the equipment managers just stop handing them out.
For a long time, nobody wore 00. It felt sacred. Eventually, the NFL changed rules about numbering, making 00 a relic of the past anyway, but the sentiment remained. Number 12, worn by "The Stabler," Ken Stabler, is another one. After Snake passed away, there was a massive push from the fanbase to officially retire 12. The organization didn't budge on the policy, but you don't exactly see a lot of high-profile quarterbacks lining up to grab 12 and try to fill those boots.
It takes a certain kind of ego—or a lack of history knowledge—to ask for those digits.
Why This Policy Actually Works
Some people think it’s disrespectful. They see the Cowboys or the Steelers (who also rarely retire numbers but do it more than the Raiders) and think the Silver and Black are being cold.
I disagree.
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There’s something incredibly cool about seeing a rookie wide receiver fly down the sideline wearing 21. It’s a visual callback. It keeps the history alive in a way that a dusty banner in the rafters never could. When you see a linebacker wearing 51, you think of Ben Davidson or Dick Butkus (well, not a Raider, but you get the point) or in the Raiders' case, someone like Greg Townsend wearing 79.
It keeps the ghosts on the field.
The Raiders are about a specific brand of toughness. It’s "Just Win, Baby." It’s not "Just Celebrate the Past, Baby." By keeping every number in play, they force the current roster to live up to the standard of the Hall of Famers who wore it before them. It’s a psychological trick. It says: This jersey is borrowed. Don’t mess it up.
The Exception That Proves the Rule?
There has been one major exception to the "no names" rule, though it wasn't about a jersey. When Al Davis died, the "AL" sticker went on the helmets. It stayed there. That’s the only individual the Raiders have ever truly elevated above the shield.
Even then, his jersey wasn't retired because, well, he didn't have one.
What Fans Get Wrong About "Retired" Status
Most fans confuse the Hall of Fame with jersey retirement. Just because a guy is in Canton doesn’t mean his number is gone. The Raiders have one of the highest counts of Hall of Famers in league history. If they retired every HOFer's number, they’d be out of jerseys by 2030. They’d be starting games with guys wearing 104 and 1/2.
Think about the 70s Raiders.
- Ken Stabler (12)
- Willie Brown (24)
- Ray Guy (8)
- Ted Hendricks (83)
- Dave Casper (87)
That’s five numbers right there. Add in the 80s legends and the AFL pioneers, and the math just doesn't work. The Raiders' refusal to participate in the Oakland Raiders retired jerseys tradition is actually a practical necessity as much as it is a philosophical choice. They have too much greatness to bottle up.
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How to Honor the Legends Instead
Since you won't see a jersey retirement ceremony at halftime, the Raiders have had to find other ways to pay homage. They rely heavily on their alumni. You’ll see the legends on the sidelines. You’ll see them lighting the Al Davis Memorial Torch.
This torch ceremony has become the "new" jersey retirement. It’s the highest honor a former player or coach can receive. To be the one who lights the flame before kickoff? That’s the Raiders' version of hanging a number in the rafters. It’s temporary, it’s fiery, and it’s loud.
It’s way more "Raiders" than a piece of mesh in a frame.
The Future of the Policy in Las Vegas
When the team moved to Vegas, people wondered if Mark Davis would soften. Mark is a lot like his dad, but he’s also a bit more of a "people person." He built a massive, beautiful facility. He brought back the alumni in a way Al sometimes didn't.
But so far? The policy stands.
There are no Oakland Raiders retired jerseys (or Las Vegas Raiders retired jerseys) planned. Maxx Crosby is out there making 98 legendary. If he plays another ten years at this level, will they retire 98? Probably not. Someone else will wear it. And they’ll have to play like a madman to justify it.
That’s the beauty of it.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans
If you’re a fan looking to honor the history of the team without a "retired jersey" guide, here is how you navigate the numbers:
- Don't expect a ceremony. If you're buying tickets hoping to see a jersey retirement, save your money. It isn't happening. Look for the Torch Lighting instead.
- Learn the "Shadow Numbers." If you see a player wearing 12, 00, 24, or 63, know that they are carrying a massive legacy. Those are the "unofficially" retired numbers that define the franchise's soul.
- Appreciate the Continuity. Next time you see a young player in a legend's number, don't view it as a slight. View it as the Raiders' way of saying the past is never really gone.
- The Shield First. Remember the mantra: "The greatness of the Raiders is in its future." That was Al's favorite line. Retiring jerseys is about looking back; the Raiders are obsessed with looking forward.
The Raiders are different. They always have been. They don't follow the NFL's unwritten rules, and they certainly don't care about your "Top 10 Retired Jerseys" list. They keep their numbers on the field, their legends in the building, and their eyes on the next win. In a world of over-sanitized sports marketing, there’s something genuinely refreshing about that.
The jerseys stay on the backs of the players. The legends stay in the hearts of the fans. And the Silver and Black keeps moving. No rafters required.