Las Vegas Raiders all-time players Mount Rushmore
By Brad Weiss
Ken Stabler, QB (1970-1979)
When it comes to the Raiders franchise, one name that stands out above the rest in terms of players is Ken Stabler. Affectionately referred to as Snake, Stabler epitomized the Raiders teams of the 1970s, becoming the franchise’s all-time passing leader, and the most beloved player in team history.
Stabler’s records have since been passed by Derek Carr, but for a ten-year span, Stabler was the face of some of the more impressive Raiders teams in franchise history. An absolute winner, Stabler put together a record of 69-26-1 as the starting quarterback for the Silver and Black, leading them to a victory in Super Bowl XI over Minnesota.
Not only did Stabler dominate on the field, but he played with the kind of passion that made him a fan favorite in Raider Nation. He is still the gold standard by which all Raiders quarterbacks are measured, and despite his records being broken, he is still considered the best signal-caller in team history.
Stabler was the NFL’s Most Valuable Player in 1974, was a four-time Pro Bowler, and twice was named an All-Pro. A member of the NFL’s All-Decade Team for the 1970s, Snake was able to utilize a solid trio at wide receiver in Fred Biletnikoff, Cliff Branch, and Dave Casper, spearheading the Raiders most dominant decade, a span that saw them never finish without a winning season.