Las Vegas Raiders: 15 most beloved fan favorites in franchise history

Most beloved Raiders of all time: 14. Art Shell

Only one person in Raiders’ history has played for the team and managed it from the sideline, the legendary Art Shell. A third-round pick out of Maryland Eastern Shore, Shell went on to spend 15 seasons manning the left tackle position with the Raiders. Alongside other club legends like Gene Upshaw, Shell helped the Raiders find success in the 1970s and early 1980s.

Shell’s illustrious career, all spent with the Silver and Black, is one of the best in NFL history. In 15 seasons, Shell earned Pro Bowl honors eight times and All-Pro honors twice. The behemoth left tackle is now enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, a fitting place for a generational talent like Shell.

Not only was Shell a terrific player for the Raiders, but he also went on to coach the team in the early 1990s. Shell found mixed success with the team, making the playoffs three times in seven years.

However, Shell’s winning percentage as a coach is barely over .500 at 56-52. Shell was curiously fired by owner Al Davis following a 9-7 season in 1994, a move that Davis would later say he regretted.

Shell came back to coach the team again in 2006 but was let go after only one season posting a 2-14 record. Regardless of Shell’s coaching resume, he is one of the all-time fan favorites in Raiders’ history. As a player and coach, Shell spent a ton of time with the organization and garnered a lot of fandom throughout his long tenure with the team.