LAS VEGAS — Leave it to Pete Carroll to convey a message about passion in a way that resembles a halftime pep talk. Asked this week about the Las Vegas Raiders honoring Hispanic Heritage Month, the coach leaned in with a smile and didn’t hesitate: “That’s a beautiful question.” This is why Raider Nation is wholeheartedly embracing their Super Bowl-winning head coach.
Carroll, who surely grew up around Raider Nation during the franchise’s California years, knows better than most how deeply the team’s Latino supporters are connected. Tom Flores—a Hall of Fame coach, two-time Super Bowl champion, and enduring symbol of history—serves as a constant reminder of how vital that connection is. This bond is particularly special when considering that California has hosted more than one NFL franchise; the connection with the Raiders is uniquely different.
Raider Nation, La Raza—a match made in heaven…
The Raiders are one of the NFL’s most culturally rooted franchises, and Carroll gets it. “The life and the spirit and the love that they bring to our club is obvious,” he said. “We want to represent them.” In Carroll-speak, that’s about as close to poetry as it gets. Can you picture Josh McDaniels attempting to express a similar sentiment?
But anyway, let’s head to Southern California.
The Raiders’ history in Los Angeles has significantly strengthened their bond with the community. From vibrant murals in East LA that celebrate the team’s identity to Tom Flores raising the Lombardi Trophy, the Raiders have become an integral part of Latino sports culture. Even now, in Las Vegas, it’s common to find yourself at Allegiant Stadium feeling as if the desert landscape has been replaced by the lively atmosphere of a block party in Boyle Heights.
Carroll even joked that the crowd against Washington “felt like a lot of LA people might have shown up.” He wasn’t wrong—the Raiders remain a cultural export as much as a football team.
And that’s really the point. Recognition of Hispanic Heritage Month isn’t just symbolic; it’s a reminder of the soul that powers Raider Nation. Carroll called it “juice,” and the truth is, without that energy, the Raiders wouldn’t be the Raiders.
Turns out, the Silver and Black look especially sharp when accented with a little cultural pride.
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*Top Photo: Bridget Bennett/San Francisco Chronicle