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

Most beloved Raiders of all time: 7. Ken Stabler

Ken “The Snake” Stabler is arguably the best quarterback in franchise history and still holds a lot of franchise records for passing statistics. Derek Carr will likely surpass those numbers in the near future, but with Carr doing so will by no means erase Stabler’s legacy with the franchise.

A dual-sport athlete, Stabler was drafted into both the NFL and the MLB before deciding to play football for the Raiders. Stabler spent 10 seasons with the Raiders before closing his career out with the then-Houston Oilers and the New Orleans Saints in the early 1980s.

From 1973 to 1979, Stabler was the starting quarterback for the Silver and Black, leading them to the playoffs five times and winning a Super Bowl with the 1976 team. Stabler tallied 19,708 passing yards and 150 touchdowns during his time with the Raiders, both current franchise records.

Stabler’s confidence and clutch gene helped him lead many comebacks with the Raiders, making him a beloved member among the fans. Whenever “Snake” had a chance with the ball late in the game, fans always knew he would be able to pull off sometimes unthinkable drives to help the team to a win.

Unfortunately, Stabler passed away due to colon cancer before he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. In fact, almost a year after his death the league announced he was being inducted.

It was heartbreaking for Stabler’s family and fans to not be able to see him accept his rightful induction into the hall. A beloved member of Raider Nation, Stabler is one of the best examples of a fan favorite in team history.