Looking back on the career of Raiders QB Daryle Lamonica
Lamonica heads to the Raiders
Instantly, Lamonica became a star. In his first season under head coach John Rauch, Lamonica led the Raiders to a 13-1 record. He also led the league in passing touchdowns with 30. After winning the AFC, Lamonica’s Raiders earned the right to play in the NFL’s second Super Bowl. While they would lose to the Packers, the game helped prove that the Raiders had arrived.
Going forward, they continued to dominate under Lamonica’s watch. In fact, from 1967 to 1969, Oakland lost just four games. An All-Pro selection in 1969, Lamonica led the league in pass attempts, completions, yards, and touchdowns. He was named the AFL MVP as well.
As Lamonica began to slow down entering his thirties, the team’s starting quarterback job was handed to Ken Stabler in 1973. Even still, Lamonica was kept as a backup and played at points throughout the ’73 and ’74 seasons.