John Vella, Raiders Super Bowl champion, ᴅᴇᴀᴅ at 74

John Vella, Raiders Super Bowl champion, ᴅᴇᴀᴅ at 74

John Vella, who spent eight seasons in the NFL and won a Super Bowl with the Raiders, died on Wednesday, the team announced. 

He was 74.

“The Raiders Family mourns the pᴀssing of John Vella, a standout on the dominant Raider offensive lines of the 1970s and a starter on Oakland’s Super Bowl XI Championship team,” the team said in a statement. “Vella originally joined the Raiders as a second-round draft selection in 1972 out of USC, where he earned consensus All-American honors as a tackle in 1971. A versatile performer and a ferocious compeтιтor, Vella played both guard and tackle, seeing action in 84 games with 48 starts in eight seasons with the Silver and Black. He finished his career with Minnesota in 1980.

Offensive lineman John Vella of the Oakland Raiders blocks
against the San Diego Chargers at San Diego Stadium on
Oct. 13, 1974, in San Diego, Calif. NFL

“The prayers of the entire Raider Nation are with the Vella family at this time.”

Vella was selected by the Raiders in the second round of the draft in 1972 after playing college ball at USC. 

He went on to play in 92 games over the course of his NFL career, recording 48 starts. 

During the 1976 season, Vella started in 14 games for the then-Oakland Raiders and made three playoff starts as the team went on to beat the Vikings, 32-14, in Super Bowl XI. 

Vella played his final season in 1980, which was with the Vikings, where he made eight appearances.

Offensive tackle John Vella of the Oakland Raiders looks on
during a preseason game against the San Francisco 49ers
at Candlestick Park on Sept. 2, 1974 in San Francisco, Calif. Getty Images
Oakland Raiders coach John Madden on the sidelines with John Matuszak (72) and John Vella (75) during game vs New England Patriots at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. Sports Illustrated via Getty Ima

Following his retirement, Vella got into the sports memorabilia industry, opening The Raiders Locker Room store in the Bay Area, which he later renamed Vella’s Locker Room to help settle a lawsuit with the NFL and team, which accused him of trademark violation.   

Related Posts

NFL quarterback’s ex-girlfriend responds to claims she was partying his teammates in Nashville

NFL quarterback’s ex-girlfriend responds to claims she was partying his teammates in Nashville

Gia Duddy, the popular social-media influencer and ex-girlfriend of Tennessee тιтans quarterback Will Levis, has pushed back on a report claiming she was hanging out with his…

Shedeur Sanders given career advice after NFL Draft drama from former MVP

Shedeur Sanders given career advice after NFL Draft drama from former MVP

Former NFL MVP Cam Newton has given his perspective to Shedeur Sanders as he enters the league with ongoing drama in multiple ways.  First, Sanders fell from…

Two-time Super Bowl winner who played a season in MLB ᴅᴇᴀᴅ at 84

Two-time Super Bowl winner who played a season in MLB ᴅᴇᴀᴅ at 84

Tom Brown, a two-sport athlete who made a crucial play to secure an NFL тιтle for the Green Bay Packers in 1966, has died at the age…

Kansas City Chiefs GM makes alarming Travis Kelce prediction

Kansas City Chiefs GM makes alarming Travis Kelce prediction

Kansas City Chiefs general manager Brett Veach made a boisterous prophecy about Travis Kelce’s upcoming 2025 season that sounded a bit contradictory.   Veach has seen Kelce rise…

Inside the 35-year friendship between John Elway and agent Jeff Sperbeck that ended in tragedy after horror golf cart accident

Inside the 35-year friendship between John Elway and agent Jeff Sperbeck that ended in tragedy after horror golf cart accident

NFL legend John Elway was ‘devastated and heartbroken’ on Wednesday. He had lost more than just an agent; he had lost a longtime close friend.  Jeff Sperbeck,…

How Shedeur Sanders knew Cleveland Browns draft call was not a prank

How Shedeur Sanders knew Cleveland Browns draft call was not a prank

After being stunned with a prank call on Day 2 of the NFL Draft last week, Shedeur Sanders didn’t have any hesitations that the Cleveland Browns were…