The black at Al Davis' funeral will bear a proud streak of silver.
On Saturday, the NFL legend and Oakland Raiders owner passed away at 82.
As shockwaves of the news, promulgated Saturday morning on the Raiders team website, rippled across the league, Chargers president Dean Spanos released a statement on behalf of the Spanos family.
Davis broke into pro football coaching in 1960, his first job as an offensive end coach for the Los Angeles Chargers of the AFL. He followed the team to San Diego and continued through the 1962 campaign.
“Al Davis is one of the main reasons our family is in the NFL today," Spanos said. "Al approached my dad (owner Alex Spanos) about getting involved in the NFL and was very helpful to us through the process. He had great insight into the league, both the product on the field and the business off the field. He saw the potential for growth. He was very much a visionary. Our family will always be grateful to Al for his friendship."
Davis, born on July 4, 1929, captained the sport's emergence as America's most popular pastime.
His roles covered the gamet: scout, assistant coach, head coach, general manager, commissioner, team owner and team CEO.
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He fathered the Raiders swagger and is synonymous with its aura, from in-game physicality and intimidation to spikes and face paint in the Black Hole stands.
"Al is also a big reason for the strong rivalry between the Raiders and the Chargers and its popularity among both teams’ fans," Spanos said. "He personified the image and mystique of the Raiders, and that image has helped build the strength of our rivalries and the popularity of our game. There has been no one in the NFL like Al Davis.
“The NFL and NFL fans everywhere – not just Raiders fans – owe Al Davis for helping to build the game we all love so much. He will be missed.”
