Las Vegas Raiders: 50 greatest players in franchise history

We have cracked the top-25. Now would be a good time to talk about a former AFL MVP with the Raiders. Running back Clem Daniels might have played at a small HBCU in Prairie View A&M, but that didn’t stop him from achieving greatness with the Silver and Black in the 1960s. After being used sparingly with the then Dallas Texans in 1960, he would become a star tailback in Oakland in just a few years.

In 1963, Daniels would lead the AFL in rushing with 1,099 yards on 215 carries for three touchdowns. He also led the league in yards from scrimmage with 1,784, as he had 30 catches for 685 yards and five touchdowns. That gave Daniels a league-best 22.8 yards per receptions in his 1963 AFL MVP season.

1963 might have been Daniels’ best season as a pro, but that would set in motion three-straight AFL All-Star game appearances for the Oakland tailback. He may have never rushed for over 1,000 yards in a season again, but Daniels was a consistent threat to break off 800 in a 14-game season for the Raiders.

In 1967, Daniels would be part of the AFL Championship team in Oakland. He was a two-time first-team All-League and a two-time second-team All-League running back for the Raiders in the 1960s. Daniels would briefly play for the 1968 San Francisco 49ers before retiring from football at 31 years of age.