When you talk about the Silver and Black, you aren't just talking about a football team. You're talking about a vibe. A specific, gritty, "Commitment to Excellence" kind of energy that started back in 1960. But honestly? The Oakland Raiders quarterback history is a total rollercoaster that’s often misunderstood by casual fans who only remember the Super Bowl highlights or the draft busts.
It’s easy to look at the three rings and assume it was all smooth sailing. It wasn't. For every legendary "Snake" Stabler moment, there’s a year where the team was basically throwing darts at a depth chart. To understand this franchise, you’ve got to look at the guys who actually embodied Al Davis's "Vertical Game" philosophy—and the ones who crashed and burned trying to live up to it.
The Mad Bomber and the Birth of the Long Ball
Before the Raiders were a global brand, they were an AFL underdog. Tom Flores was the first real steady hand, starting 63 games and throwing for over 11,000 yards in the early 60s. He was good. Solid. But Al Davis wanted explosive.
That changed in 1967.
The Raiders traded Flores to Buffalo for a guy named Daryle Lamonica. They called him the "Mad Bomber," and for good reason. He didn't just throw the ball; he hunted for the end zone on every single snap. In his first year in Oakland, he went 13-1 as a starter and took the team to Super Bowl II.
Lamonica finished his Oakland career with 148 touchdowns. He averaged a ridiculous 14.6 yards per completion. Think about that for a second. Every time he completed a pass, the team was basically moving a set of chains and then some. He set the template for what a Raiders QB was supposed to be: aggressive, fearless, and slightly terrifying for opposing safeties.
Why Ken Stabler Still Matters
If Lamonica was the architect of the deep ball, Ken "Snake" Stabler was the soul of the franchise. There’s a reason he’s the guy most fans picture when they think of the 70s. Stabler wasn't a workout warrior. He was a lefty from Alabama who famously studied his playbook by the light of a jukebox.
Stats-wise, Stabler was a beast for the era:
- 150 touchdowns in Silver and Black.
- 19,078 passing yards.
- 1974 NFL MVP.
- A 69-26-1 record as a starter.
But the numbers don't tell you about the "Sea of Hands" catch or the "Ghost to the Post." Stabler won. A lot. He led the Raiders to five straight AFC Championship games. When they finally broke through in Super Bowl XI to beat the Vikings, it cemented him as an immortal in Oakland. He didn't have the strongest arm, but he had a weird, innate accuracy and a "clutch gene" that you just can't coach. He was eventually inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2016, a move many felt was long overdue.
The Jim Plunkett Resurgence
By 1980, the Raiders were supposed to be over the hill. They had traded Stabler to Houston for Dan Pastorini. It looked like a disaster. Pastorini got hurt five games into the season, and in stepped Jim Plunkett.
Plunkett was a former No. 1 overall pick who had been labeled a "bust" in New England and San Francisco. He was basically a backup on his last legs. What happened next is one of the greatest redemption arcs in sports history.
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He didn't just play; he took a Wild Card team all the way to a championship. He won Super Bowl XV MVP honors, throwing three touchdowns against the Eagles. Then, a few years later, he did it again in Super Bowl XVIII, dismantling the Washington Redskins 38-9.
People argue about Plunkett’s Hall of Fame credentials because his regular-season stats (80 TDs to 81 INTs with the Raiders) are messy. But the man won two rings. In Oakland, winning is the only stat that actually carries weight.
Rich Gannon and the Last Great Era
The 90s were... rough. You had Jay Schroeder, Jeff Hostetler, and Jeff George. They were okay, but the team lacked that "it" factor until Jon Gruden brought in Rich Gannon in 1999.
Gannon was a journeyman. He was 34 years old when he got to Oakland. Most people thought he was just a bridge quarterback. Instead, he became a lawnmower. He won the 2002 NFL MVP, led the league in passing yards that year (4,689), and took the Raiders to Super Bowl XXXVII.
He was the polar opposite of Stabler. While Snake was all about feel and late-night fun, Gannon was a preparation freak. He demanded perfection. He finished his Raiders tenure with 114 touchdowns and only 50 interceptions—insanely efficient for a team known for taking risks.
The Derek Carr Dilemma
You can't talk about Oakland Raiders quarterback history without getting into the Derek Carr era. This is where things get polarizing. Carr is the franchise's all-time leader in almost every statistical category:
- 35,222 passing yards.
- 217 touchdowns.
- 3,201 completions.
He was the face of the team for nine seasons (2014–2022). He was there for the 12-4 magical run in 2016 that ended with a broken leg on Christmas Eve. He stayed through the move to Las Vegas.
The knock on Carr was always his "w-l" record (63-79) and a perceived hesitancy to "let it rip" in the red zone compared to the gunslingers of the past. But honestly? He played for about six different head coaches and countless offensive coordinators. He was the only constant in a decade of chaos. Whether you love him or think he was "mid," he's statistically the most productive passer to ever wear the jersey.
The Draft Nightmares
We have to mention the "dark ages" briefly. Between Gannon and Carr, the Raiders' QB room was a revolving door of sadness.
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- JaMarcus Russell (2007): The 1st overall pick. He's widely considered the biggest bust in NFL history. He had the arm of a god and the work ethic of a couch potato.
- Todd Marinovich (1991): The "Robo-QB." He was groomed from birth to be a star, but personal demons and substance abuse cut his career short after just eight starts.
- Marc Wilson (1980): A first-rounder who was supposed to be the heir to Stabler. He stayed for years but never quite "got it," finishing with more picks (86) than touchdowns (77).
What This History Teaches Us
The Raiders don't do "average" well. When they have a quarterback who fits the "Raider Way"—someone with a chip on their shoulder like Gannon or a Maverick streak like Stabler—they win titles. When they try to force a "system fit" or draft for raw physical traits without the mental toughness (Russell), they bottom out.
If you’re looking to truly appreciate this legacy, don’t just look at the Pro Football Reference page. Go watch film of Lamonica’s deep balls to Cliff Branch or Stabler’s ability to manipulate a pocket.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Researchers:
- Study the 1976 and 1980 Seasons: These are the blueprints for how the Raiders used "cast-off" talent to dominate.
- Watch the 2002 MVP Season: Rich Gannon’s tape from this year is a masterclass in the West Coast offense before it became the league standard.
- Acknowledge the Context: When comparing Derek Carr to Ken Stabler, remember that Stabler played in an era where DBs could practically tackle receivers before the ball arrived. Stats aren't everything.
The history of the Raiders at the quarterback position is a story of outcasts finding a home. It’s about guys like Plunkett and Gannon proving everyone wrong. As the team moves forward, they’re still searching for that next "Snake"—the guy who can walk into a stadium, look at the Silver and Black, and know exactly how to "Just Win, Baby."