Las Vegas Raiders: 15 best linebackers of all-time

Best linebackers in Las Vegas Raiders history: Archie Matsos

Bonus points to any fans who have heard this name before. Archie Matsos played exclusively for the Raiders during their AFL days and never played a snap in the NFL. From 1963 to 1965, Matsos manned the middle of the Raiders defense with ability few had seen before him. He was an absolute menace on the gridiron, capable of both stuffing the run and serving as a ballhawk.

To this point, Matsos finished his career with a ridiculous 22 interceptions in only 94 games. He, like many others on this list, had a way of gravitating toward the ball and making something good happen. That is a good trait for a linebacker to have. Regardless, Matsos was a playmaker in the heart of the field.

Matsos was truly one of the most talented linebackers to play in the Silver and Black. However, he falls on this ranking due to lack of time spent with the team, and lack of name recognition. Today’s fans likely are unaware of who Matsos is, as he only played three seasons with the team in the mid-1960’s.

Truthfully, Matsos paved the way for some of the guys on this list. He established the standard for Raiders linebackers. He brought an unmatched level of intelligence and raw athletic power that truly shaped what linebackers would be for this franchise. His two AFL All-Pro nominations are evidence of his talent, and can be marked as the beginning of strong lineage of Raiders linebackers.