Al Davis - Executive, Life Achievements and Facts
Al Davis's Personal Details
Al Davis was an American football coach and executive
| Information | Detail |
|---|---|
| Birthday | July 4, 1929 |
| Died on | October 8, 2011 |
| Nationality | American |
| Famous | Jewish Athletes, Syracuse University, Sportspersons, Coaches, Sports Administrators, Executive, Football Coach |
| Spouses | Carol Davis |
| Known as | Allen Davis, Arthur Allen Davis |
| Childrens | Mark Davis |
| Universities |
|
| Notable Alumnis |
|
| Birth Place | Brockton |
| Gender | Male |
| Father | Louis Davis |
| Mother | Rose Davis |
| Net Worth | $500 million |
| Sun Sign | Cancer |
| Born in | Brockton |
| Famous as | American Football Coach & Executive |
| Died at Age | 82 |
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Al Davis's photo
Who is Al Davis?
Allen "Al" Davis was an American football executive and coach. He was the principal owner and general manager of the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League (NFL). As an assistant to Sid Gillman of the Los Angeles Chargers, he learned of the "vertical" passing game that Gillman had constructed, he perfected the scheme as a coach, to turn the struggling Raiders franchise around. As the commissioner of the American Football League, he opposed a merger between the NFL and AFL. He didn't last long as commissioner because of his brash actions. He was strict with his coaching staff and players and demanded just one thing of them: winning. He took players who were outcasts and deemed bad character types and made them feel at home in Oakland and they had no problems when Al told them to "Just Win, Baby."He was not shy about hiring minority coaches to lead his team. He gambled on a little-known 32-year-old linebackers coach John Madden and was vindicated as Madden made the Raiders a perennial powerhouse. A believer in equality, he was the first NFL owner to hire an African-American head coach and a female chief executive. He was a maverick and a rebel whose legacy will never be forgotten.
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Childhood & Early Life
Allen Davis was born on July 4, 1929 in Brockton, Massachusetts, to Louis Davis and Rose and he had a younger brother Jerry. Louis tried a variety of trades before settling down in the garment manufacturing business.
The family moved into a better accommodation in Brooklyn in 1934. He attended Erasmus Hall High School and was a reserve in the school team and picked up coaching techniques from Coach Al Badain.
Davis graduated from high school in 1947, enrolled at Wittenberg College in Ohio, but transferred to Syracuse University. Unsuccessful in his efforts to join the men's basketball team, Davis became interested in football strategy.
Career
Upon graduation in 1950 with a B.A in English, Davis sought a position on a college football coaching staff while pursuing a master's degree and was appointed coach at Adelphi University, Long Island.
In 1952, upon receipt of his master's degree, he was inducted into the Army. General Stanley Scott of Fort Belvoir, Virginia, obtained Davis's services in 1953 as coach for his base's football squad.
He remained at Fort Belvoir until his discharge from the Army in 1954. While coaching in the Army, he would sell scouting information about his players to National Football League (NFL) teams.
He worked for a year as a freelance scout for the Baltimore Colts of the NFL and advised the Colts which players to offer contracts to or draft as they returned to civilian life.
The Colts' head coach, Weeb Ewbank’s connections enabled Davis to be hired by The Citadel as an assistant to newly hired head coach John Sauer and took the credit for The Citadel’s success.
He became the University of Southern California’s assistant coach and helped the team to become Pacific Coast Conference champions. He was not considered to the post of head coach when the post became vacant.
When Sid Gillman became the coach of Los Angeles Chargers of the AFL, he hired Davis as backfield coach. Davis outwitted his rival NFL San Francisco 49ers to draft the wide receiver Lance Alworth.
After the 1962 season, Raiders general partner F. Wayne Valley hired Davis as head coach and general manager. At 33, Davis was the youngest person in professional football history to hold the position.
He implemented what he termed the "vertical game," an aggressive offensive strategy developed by Chargers head coach Sid Gillman. The Raiders improved to 10–4, the first winning record in franchise history.
In April 1966, he was named the American Football League Commissioner and aggressively signed several of the NFL's top players to AFL contracts. But he resigned when in July the Leagues announced their merger.
He formed a holding company, A.D. Football, Inc. and returned to Oakland Raiders as one of three partners with a 10% stake in the team and named head of football operations.
In 1969, John Madden became the team's sixth head coach, and under him, the Raiders became one of the most successful franchises in the NFL, winning six division titles in the following decade.
In 1970, the AFL-NFL merger took place and the Raiders joined the Western Division in the NFL. The first two post-merger seasons saw the Raiders win the AFC West but failed to win the division.
In 1972, he drafted a revised partnership agreement that made him the new managing general partner, with near-absolute control over team operations. He also effectively served as his own general manager until his death.
His attempt to move the Raiders to Los Angeles was blocked by a court injunction. So, Davis filed an anti-trust lawsuit against the NFL and a district court ruled in his favor in 1982.
The Raiders failed to make the playoffs in 11 consecutive seasons from 2003 to 2013 including double-digit loss record seasons in seven consecutive years. Quarterback JaMarcus Russell, flopped badly and Davis was largely blamed.
Protesting Alabama's segregation laws, Davis refused to allow the game to be played there, and was the first NFL owner to hire an African-American head coach and a female chief executive.
Major Achievements
With Davis as owner-manager, the Raiders became one of the most successful teams in professional sports. From 1967 to 1985, the team won 13 division championships, one AFL championship, and three Super Bowls
In 1967, he made a number of roster moves, landing Buffalo Bill’s quarterback Daryle Lamonica, Houston Oiler’s QB George Blanda and Gene Upshaw, who became the cornerstone of the Oakland offensive line
Awards
Davis became the very first recipient of the NFL Players Association’s Retired Players Award of Excellence and, in 1992, was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame by John Madden.
In 1998, Davis was inducted into the NFL Alumni’s “Order of the Leather Helmet,” presented annually to “Individuals who have made significant contributions to the game of professional football.”
Personal Life & Legacy
Davis died of heart failure on 8th October 2011and was survived by his wife, Carol, and their only child, Mark, who became the Raiders’ managing general partner and holds the majority of the team with his mother.
Trivia
This quote of this maverick American football executive shows his aggressive attitude- “We don't take what the defense gives us; we take whatever the hell we want."
He was generous in helping former players in need, and did so without fanfare. His philosophy was, Once a Raider, always a Raider.
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Al Davis biography timelines
- // 4th Jul 1929Allen Davis was born on July 4, 1929 in Brockton, Massachusetts, to Louis Davis and Rose and he had a younger brother Jerry. Louis tried a variety of trades before settling down in the garment manufacturing business.
- // 1934The family moved into a better accommodation in Brooklyn in 1934. He attended Erasmus Hall High School and was a reserve in the school team and picked up coaching techniques from Coach Al Badain.
- // 1947Davis graduated from high school in 1947, enrolled at Wittenberg College in Ohio, but transferred to Syracuse University. Unsuccessful in his efforts to join the men's basketball team, Davis became interested in football strategy.
- // 1950Upon graduation in 1950 with a B.A in English, Davis sought a position on a college football coaching staff while pursuing a master's degree and was appointed coach at Adelphi University, Long Island.
- // 1952 To 1953In 1952, upon receipt of his master's degree, he was inducted into the Army. General Stanley Scott of Fort Belvoir, Virginia, obtained Davis's services in 1953 as coach for his base's football squad.
- // 1954He remained at Fort Belvoir until his discharge from the Army in 1954. While coaching in the Army, he would sell scouting information about his players to National Football League (NFL) teams.
- // 1962After the 1962 season, Raiders general partner F. Wayne Valley hired Davis as head coach and general manager. At 33, Davis was the youngest person in professional football history to hold the position.
- // Apr 1966In April 1966, he was named the American Football League Commissioner and aggressively signed several of the NFL's top players to AFL contracts. But he resigned when in July the Leagues announced their merger.
- // 1967 To 1985With Davis as owner-manager, the Raiders became one of the most successful teams in professional sports. From 1967 to 1985, the team won 13 division championships, one AFL championship, and three Super Bowls
- // 1967In 1967, he made a number of roster moves, landing Buffalo Bill’s quarterback Daryle Lamonica, Houston Oiler’s QB George Blanda and Gene Upshaw, who became the cornerstone of the Oakland offensive line
- // 1969In 1969, John Madden became the team's sixth head coach, and under him, the Raiders became one of the most successful franchises in the NFL, winning six division titles in the following decade.
- // 1970In 1970, the AFL-NFL merger took place and the Raiders joined the Western Division in the NFL. The first two post-merger seasons saw the Raiders win the AFC West but failed to win the division.
- // 1972In 1972, he drafted a revised partnership agreement that made him the new managing general partner, with near-absolute control over team operations. He also effectively served as his own general manager until his death.
- // 1982His attempt to move the Raiders to Los Angeles was blocked by a court injunction. So, Davis filed an anti-trust lawsuit against the NFL and a district court ruled in his favor in 1982.
- // 1992Davis became the very first recipient of the NFL Players Association’s Retired Players Award of Excellence and, in 1992, was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame by John Madden.
- // 1998In 1998, Davis was inducted into the NFL Alumni’s “Order of the Leather Helmet,” presented annually to “Individuals who have made significant contributions to the game of professional football.”
- // 2003 To 2013The Raiders failed to make the playoffs in 11 consecutive seasons from 2003 to 2013 including double-digit loss record seasons in seven consecutive years. Quarterback JaMarcus Russell, flopped badly and Davis was largely blamed.
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Al Davis's FAQ
What is Al Davis birthday?
Al Davis was born at 1929-07-04
When was Al Davis died?
Al Davis was died at 2011-10-08
Where was Al Davis died?
Al Davis was died in Oakland
Which age was Al Davis died?
Al Davis was died at age 82
Where is Al Davis's birth place?
Al Davis was born in Brockton
What is Al Davis nationalities?
Al Davis's nationalities is American
Who is Al Davis spouses?
Al Davis's spouses is Carol Davis
Who is Al Davis childrens?
Al Davis's childrens is Mark Davis
What was Al Davis universities?
Al Davis studied at Syracuse University, Syracuse University, Erasmus Hall High School, Wittenberg University
What was Al Davis notable alumnis?
Al Davis's notable alumnis is Syracuse University
Who is Al Davis's father?
Al Davis's father is Louis Davis
Who is Al Davis's mother?
Al Davis's mother is Rose Davis
What is Al Davis's sun sign?
Al Davis is Cancer
How famous is Al Davis?
Al Davis is famouse as American Football Coach & Executive