With 81 days until the opening game of 2020, we start the count down with the best Raiders player at every jersey number. Today we focus on No. 81.
With the season a few months away, we take a look at the best player to wear the jersey number of the number of days left before the opener on September 13, 2020 against the Carolina Panthers. That game will kick off the new era of Raiders football.
We continue our series with No. 81.
We all know who the honoree is for this honor but there is a little known player that was making a good case for himself before legal troubles ended his career prematurely. Warren Wells was originally drafted by the Detroit Lions in 1964 and played there for one season before being drafted in to the military.
After serving 3 years with the US Army, Wells returned and signed with the Oakland Raiders and spent 4 years with the Silver and Black. During that span, Wells won the AFL title in 1967, was named to the AFL All-Star team in 1968, and to the NFL Pro Bowl team in 1970.
Wells’ numbers would be impressive for 2020 as he amassed 3,634 yards, 156 catches, and 42 touchdowns in 56 games with the Raiders. He had the Raiders record books at his mercy and was still in his prime at 28-years-old but legal and substance issues derailed his career and cut it short after the 1970 season.
Now for the unquestioned winner of this honor: