Reflecting on the Raiders in Oakland

Al Davis quickly became synonymous with the Raiders. He was hired as their coach in 1963 and led them to their first winning season that year. Davis. Later he would become the team's GM before ascending to principal owner.

The Raiders were crowned AFL champions following the 1967 season but went on to lose Super Bowl II to the Green Bay Packers 33-14.

The Raiders enjoyed their heyday under coach John Madden, who led the team to a 112-39-7 record from 1969-78. Madden won one Super Bowl and took Oakland to the playoffs eight times during his 10-year tenure.

The Raiders' 32-14 victory in Super Bowl XI brought them their first title. Their intimidating style and talent proved far too much for the overmatched Minnesota Vikings.

With four catches for 79 yards, Raiders WR and eventual Hall of Famer Fred Biletnikoff, left, was named MVP of Super Bowl XI.

Hall of Famer Kenny Stabler quarterbacked the Raiders for most of the 1970s, including the 1976 title team, which went 13-1 is considered one of the greatest teams in NFL history.

Stabler was involved in most of the team's most memorable games, including the "Sea Of Hands" (pictured here). He also played in "The Immaculate Reception," "Ghost to The Post," and "Holy Roller" games.

The Raiders won their second title after the 1980 season, beating Ron Jaworski (7) and the Philadelphia Eagles 27-10 in Super Bowl XV. Oakland became the first wild-card team to win a championship.

Amid one of his many legal scraps with the NFL, Davis moved the Raiders to Los Angeles after the 1981 season. The team won Super Bowl XVIII as the L.A. Raiders. But Davis eventually returned to Oakland, bringing his club back home in 1995.

The Raiders struggled after returning to Oakland, failing to post a winning record or reach the playoffs from 1995-99. But coach Jon Gruden eventually revitalized them with his forceful personality and offensive acumen. He took Oakland to the AFC Championship Game following the 2000 season and to the divisional round the following year.

The 2001 Raiders seemed to have a good shot at winning the Super Bowl. However they were waylaid by the New England Patriots in the infamous "Tuck Rule" game, one instance were Davis fed into his conspiracy theories about the NFL being out to get his team.

League MVP Rich Gannon led the Raiders to their most recent Super Bowl after the 2002 season. But they flopped in Super Bowl XXXVII, getting blown out by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and former coach Jon Gruden.

The Raiders fell on hard times following Super Bowl XXXVII, missing the playoffs for the next 13 seasons. The low point came on 2011 when Davis died at age 82. A flame at the Oakland Coliseum keeps his memory alive.

Through thick and thin, the Raiders have always been backed by a legion of zealous and loyal fans, many of the most creative packing themselves into The Coliseum's infamous "Black Hole."

Certain themes in the fans' attire have not changed through the years ...

... though new generations may add their own spin to costuming.

The Raiders' trip to Mexico City in 2016 validated that they remain a strong brand internationally.

And from a personnel standpoint, with young stars like DE Khail Mack (52) and QB Derek Carr, who helped lead the Raiders back to the playoffs in 2016, this franchise is poised to be a contender for some time.