LARLos Angeles Raiders

Franchise history

The Raiders' Los Angeles era began after a protracted legal fight. Owner Al Davis sought to move the team from Oakland to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum starting in 1980, but NFL owners voted 22-0 against the relocation. Davis sued the league on antitrust grounds; after an initial mistrial, a second jury sided with Davis and the Coliseum in May 1982, clearing the way for the franchise to open its Los Angeles chapter that November, mid-season, following a players' strike.

The move quickly paid off on the field. Behind a physical defense and the running of Marcus Allen, the Raiders went 12-4 in 1983 and routed Washington 38-9 in Super Bowl XVIII, with Allen's Super Bowl-record 74-yard touchdown run earning him MVP honors. That championship remains the high-water mark of the LA years. The Raiders retained their trademark silver-and-black colors and outlaw "Commitment to Excellence" identity, cultivating a fiercely loyal, culturally influential following — "Raider Nation" — that resonated with Hollywood and the emerging West Coast hip-hop scene.

The roster featured future Hall of Famers Marcus Allen, Howie Long, and Mike Haynes, along with two-sport star Bo Jackson, whose career was derailed by a severe hip injury in a 1990 playoff loss. On-field success faded after 1985 amid public disputes, including Davis's feud with Allen over accusations of feigned injuries, and the Coliseum never received the modernization Davis wanted. After years of stalled stadium talks and threatened moves elsewhere, Davis relocated the franchise back to Oakland for the 1995 season.

Sources

• Pro Football Reference
• Wikipedia
• Raiders.com

Super Bowl Champions won (1)

• Super Bowl XVIII - 1983