Five Raiders players and legends you’d want to be quarantined with

Gary Weaver – Honorable Mention

This choice is a head-scratcher for many because even the most die-hard Raiders fan probably doesn’t know who Gary Weaver is but he’s one of my choices and here’s why. On a Southwest flight from Las Vegas to San Jose back in 2013, my wife and I happened to sit next to an older gentleman wearing an NFL Alumni hat and shirt.

We asked him who he was and what team he played for and as soon as mentioned the Raiders my eyes lit up. Weaver was drafted by the Raiders out of Fresno State in the 7th round of the 1973 NFL Draft and spent two seasons in Oakland before spending five years with the Green Bay Packers. He didn’t win a Super Bowl ring with the Raiders but was part of teams that lost in the AFC Championship game in back to back years.

We spent the short flight asking Gary every question we could think of about the John Madden-era Raiders and he had stories for days. He shared photos of him with Raiders legends from alumni events and was more than happy to reminisce about the glory days.

It was the most enjoyable flight I’ve ever taken and I’d happily spend a few weeks with Gary who was, aside from the football talk, one of the nicest people I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting.