Jersey No. 72 has been kind to the Raiders franchise through the years

By Brad Weiss | Jul 3, 2020

NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 25: John Matuszak #72 of the Oakland Raiders pursues the play against the Philadelphia Eagles during Super Bowl XV at the Louisiana Superdome January 25, 1981 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Raiders won the Super Bowl 27-10. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

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Raiders John Matuszak (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

Jersey No. 72 has been kind to the Raiders franchise through the years

John Matuszak (1976-1981)

A former No. 1 overall pick of the Houston Oilers, John Matuszak, affectionally known as “Tooz,” came over to the Raiders franchise in 1976. Throughout the next six season, Matuszak played a key role on two Raiders Super Bowl winning teams, serving as an absolute menace coming off the edge.

During Matuszak’s time, he was the quinessential Raider, known for being a bad boy, and causing punishment to anyone who came in his path. As reliable as they come, Matuszak actually started all 16 games during his final season, and was a key member of the 1976 Raiders team that was recently named the Greatest team in NFL history.

Tooz would become quite the actor as well, appearing in movies like North Dallas Forty, as well as playing the lovable Sloth in The Goonies. He tragically died at a very young age, only six years after retiring at the age of 38, but in terms of his place in Raiders history, that will never die.

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