Here is what an all-time Oakland Raiders 53-man roster would look like
By Brad Weiss
Offensive Line
Tackles: Art Shell, Lincoln Kennedy, Harry Schuh
Guards: Gene Upshaw, Steve Wisniewski, Charley Hannah, Wayne Hawkins
Centers: Jim Otto, Dave Dalby
If you could create the perfect offensive line, you would not have to pick any player outside of the Raiders franchise. In fact, a starting five of Art Shell (LT), Gene Upshaw (LG), Jim Otto (C), Steve Wisniewski (RG), and Lincoln Kennedy (RT) could stack up against any five any other team could possibly put together.
Throughout the history of the Raiders, they have been blessed with legendary players up front on offense. Jim Otto, Gene Upshaw, and Art Shell are all-time greats, and are all enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. In addition, players like Dave Dalby, Wayne Hawkins, and Harry Schuh were some of the best players at their position during their time, making the nine players on our all-time 53-man roster pretty stacked.
Otto and Upshaw are often debated as to who is the greatest Raider of them all, as some lean towards Otto, and some towards Upshaw. Shell was not only a Hall of Fame left tackle, but he also led the Raiders to some fantastic seasons as the team’s head coach back in the early 1990s. In addition, he is the first African-American to be a head coach in NFL history.
During his 14 seasons with the Raiders, Dalby did not miss a single game. In fact, after taking over for Otto as the team’s center, he led the Raiders to three Super Bowl titles as the anchor of the offensive line. Schuh helped the Raiders to an AFL title in 1967, and Charley Hannah‘s blocking during Super Bowl XVIII is credited for springing Marcus Allen to nearly 200 yards.
From 1960-69, Hawkins was the starting right tackle for the Raiders, and was named to five AFL All-Star teams. A member of the All-Time Raiders Team, Hawkins helped the team to the 1967 AFL title, and is still considered one of the nastiest offensive guards in Raiders history.