BREAKING NEWSRaiders Super Bowl winner John Vella dies aged 74

BREAKING NEWSRaiders Super Bowl winner John Vella dies aged 74

Raiders Super Bowl champion John Vella has died at the age of 74, the team announced on Wednesday.

Vella, a former offensive lineman, was a starter on the Raiders squad which won Super Bowl XI in 1977 over the Vikings.

He played most of his career with the Raiders, suiting up in 84 games for the franchise from 1972 to 1979, and serving as a starter during the team’s Super Bowl run.

He later played one final season with the Vikings in 1980.

In a statement posted to social media, the Raiders called Vella a ‘standout on the dominant Raider offensive lines of the 1970s.’

‘The prayers of the entire Raider Nation are with the Vella family at this time.’

John Vella played most of his career with the Raiders and won Super Bowl XI with the team

John Vella played most of his career with the Raiders and won Super Bowl XI with the team

Vella is seen signing an autograph for a fan in 2015 while the Raiders played the Ravebs

Vella is seen signing an autograph for a fan in 2015 while the Raiders played the Ravebs

The Raiders did not mention a cause of death.

Following his playing career, Vella started a Raiders merchandise business for fans called  ‘John Vella’s Raider Locker Room,’ which proved to be a hit with fans of the black and silver.

An All-American at USC in college, Vella went on to become a second-round pick by the Raiders in 1972.

He stood at 6-foot-4 and was listed at 258 pounds during his career. 

Related Posts

Johnny Manziel leads pack of sports stars taking part in season four of Special Forces

Johnny Manziel leads pack of sports stars taking part in season four of Special Forces

Former NFL quarterback Johnny Manziel headlines the pack of sports stars taking part in season four of Fox reality compeтιтion Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test, which premiers next…

NFL confirms major loophole in new ban on smelling salts and other ammonia inhalants

NFL confirms major loophole in new ban on smelling salts and other ammonia inhalants

NFL players gripping their contraband smelling salts like winning lottery tickets can relax: the league won’t ban the inhalants. The players’ union sent a memo to members…

Dallas Cowboys backup QB Joe Milton easily tops NFL ‘record’ during scrimmage with Los Angeles Rams

Dallas Cowboys backup QB Joe Milton easily tops NFL ‘record’ during scrimmage with Los Angeles Rams

The Cowboys’ offseason trade for Patriots backup Joe Milton wasn’t supposed to start a quarterback controversy in Dallas, given the status of entrenched $240 million starter Dak…

Travis Kelce glad to escape Taylor Swift attention in ‘sanctuary’ of Kansas City Chiefs camp

Travis Kelce glad to escape Taylor Swift attention in ‘sanctuary’ of Kansas City Chiefs camp

Kansas City Chiefs тιԍнт end Travis Kelce is glad to escape the mᴀssive attention he gets as Taylor Swift’s boyfriend, calling the team’s training camp a ‘sanctuary’…

Revealed: Why Kansas City Chiefs welcomed a sworn enemy into camp… and he was even wearing team uniform

Revealed: Why Kansas City Chiefs welcomed a sworn enemy into camp… and he was even wearing team uniform

The Kansas City Chiefs have brought former Las Vegas Raiders coach Antonio Pierce to training camp despite being a former sworn enemy due to his vast defensive…

Machine Gun Kelly reveals somber Taylor Swift Super Bowl chat as Travis Kelce and the Chiefs were getting beat

Machine Gun Kelly reveals somber Taylor Swift Super Bowl chat as Travis Kelce and the Chiefs were getting beat

The Chiefs’ Super Bowl LIX loss was devastating for Travis Kelce, but it was a sad night for Machine Gun Kelly as well. The musician, who grew…