Las Vegas Raiders: 15 best linebackers of all-time
. LB. (1980-88). Matt Millen. 6. player. 28
Best linebackers in Las Vegas Raiders history: 6. Matt Millen
There is so much to say about a player and person like Matt Millen, but not enough space to do it, but let’s give it a go. Few people have had such an impact on the Raiders organization, and NFL as a whole, when compared to Millen. Let’s start purely with football.
The Raiders selected Millen out of Penn State in the second round of the 1980 NFL Draft. Millen paid dividends immediately, starting every game of the 1980 season that culminated with the Raiders being crowned Super Bowl champions.
Millen spent a total of nine seasons with the Raiders, both in Oakland and Los Angeles, before moving on to play with the San Francisco 49ers and the Washington Redskins. He appeared in 133 regular season games, starting an absurd 127 of them.
He also played in 11 playoff games with the Silver and Black, winning two Super Bowls with the team. Millen also won Super Bowls with the 49ers and Redskins, totaling four in his career.
Millen appeared twice on the All-Pro ranking in 1984 and 1985, cementing his on-field success. However, Millen’s move to the front office proved to not be as successful. When he took over as President and CEO of the Detroit Lions in 2001, they began the worst eight-year period in team history. Millen was released a quarter of the way through the 2008 season.
The former Raiders also enjoyed a broadcasting career that gave him multiple opportunities, including being the Monday Night Football color commentator. And yes, he was better than Jason Witten. Millen was an extraordinary leader and an incredible football player, more than deserving of a high spot on this list.