Las Vegas Raiders nickname history explained

The Las Vegas Raiders’ nickname history stretches back more than 60 years to when the team was first introduced into the AFL.

In the history of professional sports, few franchises are as beloved as the Las Vegas Raiders. Though there has not been much winning as of late, this is a very proud franchise, one that has won multiple Super Bowls, produced plenty of Hall of Famers, and developed a global reputation of being tough guys.

Since their inception into the AFL back in 1960, the Raiders have bounced around from city to city, starting in Oakland, leaving for Los Angeles, then back to Oakland, and now in Las Vegas. Throughout that time, they have won three Super Bowls, one AFL title, and 15 divisional championships, standing by their mantra of a “Commitment to Excellence.”

How did the Raiders get their nickname?

The Autumn Wind is a Señor?

The way the Raiders got their name is actually pretty hilarious, as team owner Chet Soda held a “name the team” contest and the winning name was the Oakland Señors. However, virtually everybody hated the name, and there were rumors that the contest was rigged, as Soda liked to call everyone Señor, so the name was soon changed.

In fact, the name Oakland Señors name lasted under ten days, and the team name was switched to the Oakland Raiders, which actually finished third in the contest. Known today by the nickname the “Silver and Black,” the original team colors were actually gold, black, and white, something Al Davis would change prior to the 1963 AFL season, and one that has now become one of the marquee looks in professional sports.

The name Raiders stuck, and throughout their history, they have not only kept the Silver and Black uniform scheme, but their nickname was never changed. To this date, the Raiders have become a national brand, with fans all across the globe, and while there has not been too much winning as of late, Raider Nation is still very much alive and well.