Best quarterbacks in Las Vegas Raiders History: 3. Rich Gannon
- Overall Record with Raiders: 45-29
Career Stats with Raiders:
- 17,585 passing yards
- 114 touchdowns
- 50 interceptions
- 62.6 completion percentage
- 91.2 passer rating
Often overlooked due to his status as a journeyman, Rich Gannon was a bona fide star under center for the Raiders. In six seasons with the franchise, he asserted himself as an underrated asset at quarterback.
Under the guidance of Jon Gruden, Gannon earned four straight Pro Bowl appearances to start his time with the Raiders. In 2002, the Delaware alum turned in his best season under new head coach Bill Callahan, earning an NFL MVP award and leading the Raiders to its first Super Bowl appearance since 1983. It’s just too bad he threw five interceptions on the NFL’s grandest stage, leading to a Raiders loss at the hands of the Gruden-led Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
While that performance left a sour taste in fans’ mouths, it was still a valiant effort from a quarterback who never got the credit he deserved. You have to remember he was the last gunslinger to get Oakland to the playoffs before this season.
Gannon will always be remembered as a journeyman. However, in minds of Raiders Nation, he should go down as one of the team’s most successful gunslingers of all time.