The Las Vegas Raiders have announced the passing of former offensive tackle John Vella, a key member of their Super Bowl-winning teams in the 1970s and early 1980s. Vella played a crucial role in the team’s dominant offensive line during that era. The Raiders organization released a statement honoring his contributions and legacy.
John Vella was selected by the Raiders in the second round of the 1972 NFL Draft after an impressive college career at the University of Southern California, where he excelled in both football and baseball. He was part of the Trojans’ 1970 College World Series-winning team.
When Vella joined the Raiders, the team was already competitive under head coach John Madden, making it to the AFC Championship Game in 1973, 1974, and 1975, though they fell short each time. They finally reached the pinnacle in 1976, capturing the Super Bowl after a dominant 13-1 regular season.
However, injuries took a toll on Vella, and he went on to play for the Minnesota Vikings during the 1980 season, the same year the Raiders secured their second Super Bowl title.
After retiring, Vella launched a Raiders merchandise store in Alameda County in 1987, during the team’s relocation to Los Angeles. The business struggled at first but gained traction after the Raiders returned to Oakland in the mid-1990s.
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