Countdown to 2020: Best Raiders player to wear No. 83 all-time

Countdown to 2020: Best Raiders player to wear No. 83 all-time

Ted Hendricks (1975-1983)

Raiders owner Al Davis sent two first round picks to the Green Bay Packers back in 1975 for Ted Hendricks, a punishing defensive end/linebacker that would go on to be a key member of multiple Super Bowl winning teams for the Raiders. Across his nine seasons in Oakland and Los Angeles, Hendricks proved to have a nose for the ball, helping lead a defense that became one of the best in football.

A perennial Pro Bowler with the Raiders, Hendricks was an ironman, as he played in 131 straight games for the Raiders and 215 consecutive games total during his career. Whether it was weakside opposite Phil Villapiano, or on the strongside when Villapiano was injured, Hendricks fit the defense perfectly, and became a leader for head coach John Madden.

Hendricks was named to both the All-Decade teams for the 1970s and 1980s, while also earning a spot on the NFL’s 75th and 100th Anniversary teams. Affectionately known as The Mad Stork, Hendricks used his 6-foot-7 frame to block 25 extra points or field goals during his career, and has numerous fumble recoveries and interceptions.

Hendricks was a terrorizing defensive player during his time in the Silver and Black, and his nine seasons in Oakland and Los Angeles led to him being enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. A winner of three Super Bowl rings with the Raiders, Hendricks cemented his place in team history, and even with the strong start to Waller’s career, passing him as the best to wear No. 83 is going to be a tall task.