Las Vegas Raiders: 50 greatest players in franchise history

Hewritt Dixon is another one of those players that the Raiders were able to maximize his football value. The talented player for the Florida A&M Rattlers might have been drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 11th round of the 1963 NFL Draft. However, he envisioned himself as an AFL player, as Dixon would sign with the team that drafted him in the AFL Draft the same year in the Denver Broncos.

While Dixon would play his first few professional with the Broncos, he wouldn’t really hit in the AFL until he came to the Raiders. That’s because the Broncos were using him incorrectly as a tight end when he should have been a running back. You want proof of this? Dixon would make three AFL All-Star teams, earn All-League honors in 1968, and made a trip to the Pro Bowl in his final professional season in 1970.

In five years with the Raiders, Dixon rushed for 2,960 yards on 731 carries for 13 touchdowns. Dixon was still a reliable pass catcher after the position switch upon joining the Raiders in 1966. He had 190 receptions for 1,750 yards and 10 receiving touchdowns as a member of the Silver and Black.

Truthfully, Dixon didn’t play long enough or dominate the gridiron to be part of any professional football hall of fame. It would take several years before the Raiders truly achieved greatness in the ground game in the form of Marcus Allen. Like many who starred for the Raiders in the AFL, Dixon did help set the tone for what it means to play smash-mouth football for the Silver and Black.