In our latest edition of “Raiders Explained,” we examine the defensive aspect of the game and strive to compile a list of the eight greatest players in team history.
Most people associate the modern NFL primarily with offense. When thinking about the Raiders, many fans in Raider Nation envision players like Marcus Allen, Tim Brown, and Bo Jackson. However, the Raiders’ true mystique stems from their defensive prowess, not their offensive achievements.
So, who are the greatest contributors to laying down the defensive foundation that struck fear into opponents’ hearts?
As you can imagine, narrowing the selection down to just eight players is a challenging task.
The Silver and Black have had a wealth of outstanding defensive talent come through their ranks since the late 1960s. Each era in the team’s history has featured its group of stars, often contributing to sustained success on the field. Linebackers like Ted Hendricks and Matt Millen, along with defensive backs such as Jack Tatum and George Atkinson, paved the way to the 2000s, when Charles Woodson and Nnamdi Asomugha patrolled the backfield.
Related: 8 Greatest Players In Raiders History
What’s always fun about lists like these is that you’ll have players that some fans might not be familiar with. For example, you can argue that everyone’s heard of Howie Long and his accomplishments. Conversely, not everyone will know that Greg Townsend was just as responsible for the success experienced when Long was playing–the Raiders had one of the best defensive lines in team history during their run. With that being said, let us know your thoughts! You can be sure we’ll be back with more lists.
*Top Photo: Getty Images