The Raiders NFL franchise, whether based in Oakland, Los Angeles, or Las Vegas, has always been associated with a strong inclination to throw the ball down the field. Former owner Al Davis had a distinct vision for the style of football he wanted his teams to embody.
With that said, the Raiders have also had some tremendous backfield players who could carve up defenses and control the clock. Ashton Jeanty will try to follow in those footsteps, starting with beating the NFL Week 1 game odds by taking down the Patriots at Gillette Stadium on September 7.
However, Jeanty needs to establish himself as a Raiders legend. Below, we’ll look at the best three ballcarriers in franchise history.
Marcus Allen
By any measure, Allen is the superior running back for the Raiders. He rushed for the most yards for the franchise with 8,545, which isn’t close. He also scored the most rushing touchdowns for the Raiders in his career, 79. Given the NFL’s current state, no other back could be as effective. Current Raiders fans are hoping Ashton Jeanty can approximate it.
Perhaps the most iconic play associated with Allen’s career was the sequence where he gracefully reversed field in the Super Bowl against Washington. It was the type of play that would only be realistic in a video game, yet the supremely talented Allen pulled it off in real life.
Allen’s exploits with the Raiders came after a tremendous college career at the University of Southern California.
Mark van Eeghen
He might be one of the most forgotten ballcarriers in Raiders’ history and in NFL history as a whole. The fullback position is all but extinct in today’s NFL, but van Eeghen was a legitimate offensive weapon for the Raiders from 1974 to 1981. He ran for nearly 6,000 yards with the franchise and scored 35 touchdowns on the ground.
Even when he wasn’t getting the football, van Eeghen made winning plays that helped the team achieve its ultimate goals. He was regarded for his pass-blocking skills against defensive linemen and his ability to pave the way for other backs. It’s unlikely that Raiders fans or fans of the modern game will ever see a player like Van Eeghen again.
Bo Jackson
Jackson was a part of multiple sports conversations at once. Whether it was in the NFL or MLB opening day lineups, Jackson was an explosive athlete who could hit the game-winning home run in baseball or take the ball 90 yards for a touchdown in an NFL game.
Jackson’s statistics don’t fully convey his impact. He’s only 15th all-time on the Raiders rushing list and scored 16 career touchdowns on the ground for the team. With that said, from 1987 to 1990, few players were more dangerous with the ball in their hands than Jackson was. Despite his short time in the league, Jackson’s per-carry statistics rank him as one of the most prolific rushers in NFL history. It is enjoyable to speculate about the “what if” potential of Jackson’s health and longevity.
Related: Raiders History—Listing Every Starting QB Ever
*Top Photo: Getty Images