The Las Vegas Raiders, formerly of Oakland and Los Angeles, have yet to win a playoff game since their Super Bowl run in 2002. Naturally, pundits, histories, and league devotees would forgive the younger generation of NFL fans for not knowing the Raiders dominated the sport for nearly two decades. From 1967 to 1985, the Raiders housed some of the era’s best talent and unique personalities (Kenny Stabler, Jim Plunkett, John Matusak, and Gene Upshaw, to name a few), with many NFL diehards declaring their fandom to the organization. Over the years, Raiders fans have earned a reputation for being among the most loyal in not just the NFL but in sports as a whole.
On Friday, one media outlet went as far as calling Raiders fans the ‘most hostile’ in all of sports. Big Game Boomer, a prevalent Twitter handle among football fans, went viral on Friday for their ‘Top 50 Most Hostile Fanbases In All Of Sports’ list. Sitting at the top spot is the Las Vegas Raiders, followed by the Tennessee Volunteers and the Philadelphia Eagles. Other NFL teams in the top 50 are the Cleveland Browns (5), San Francisco 49ers (13), Seattle Seahawks (19), New York Jets (23), Pittsburgh Steelers (27), Baltimore Ravens (29), Cincinnati Bengals (35), Dallas Cowboys (39), Chicago Bears (41), and Denver Broncos (46).
Las Vegas Raiders: Most Hostile Fanbase In All Of Sports
Over the years, the Las Vegas Raiders fanbase has earned a reputation for being hostile. Known around the league as Raider Nation for their loyalty and passion, Raiders fans have prestige for their hostility towards opposing team’s fans at games, especially in the notorious ‘Black Hole,’ a famous cheering section in Las Vegas and formerly of Los Angeles and Oakland. Home Raiders games remain a spectacle, with some fans known to don a Darth Vader-themed outfit while they cheer on their team.
Top 50 Most Hostile Fanbases In All Of Sports pic.twitter.com/gQ7dCKP9qf
— Big Game Boomer (@BigGameBoomer) June 21, 2024
The now-Las Vegas Raiders have struggled in recent years, but their dominance in the 70s, 80s, and 90s undoubtedly helped them gain a larger-than-life fanbase. The Raiders made their first Super Bowl in 1967 after a 13-1 campaign but fell to the Green Bay Packers 33-14. After eight straight winning seasons, the Raiders finally won their first Super Bowl under legendary head coach John Madden. The Raiders, led by Hall of Fame coach Tom Flores, again won the Super Bowl in 1980 and 1983. The Raiders remained competitive for two decades following, before returning to their last Super Bowl in 2002.
Raiders: Ushering In Antonio Pierce Era Next Fall
Las Vegas Raiders fans are eager to return to relevancy sooner rather than later. Last season, Las Vegas started the season 3-5, with the struggling Jimmy Garoppolo losing his grip on the starting quarterback job and head coach Josh McDaniels being let go. In the interim, the Raiders turned to linebackers coach Antonio Pierce and quarterback Aidan O’Connell, with the duo finding moderate success. The AFC West club went 5-4 with Pierce at the helm, leading to the Raiders naming him the 23rd head coach in franchise history this offseason.
The Raiders have since parted ways with Garoppolo, leaving O’Connell and free-agent pickup Gardner Minshew at quarterback. O’Connell threw for 2,218 yards, 12 touchdowns, and seven picks in ten starts last year. Meanwhile, Minshew earned a Pro Bowl nod with the Indianapolis Colts last season, registering 3,305 passing yards, 15 touchdowns, and nine picks. The Raiders also added highly covered tight end Brock Bowers in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft.
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