Ken Stabler Personified the 1970’s Oakland Raiders
The recent passing of Oakland Raiders legendary Quarterback, Ken “The Snake” Stabler, has stirred up emotions that can be felt from California to Foley, Alabama. Ken Stabler was not just a Super Bowl winning quarterback, he was a symbol of freedom and hope.
Ken Stabler embodied the Raiders of the 1970’s. Many NFL historians, will speak of the NFL in the 70’s, as a time of legendary teams and legendary characters. It was the era in which the Pittsburg Steelers’ famed and vaunted defense, the “Steel Curtain” was born. And it was the era in which the Miami Dolphins proved a perfect season wasn’t impossible.
Yes, the 1970’s were filled with historical moments and seasons. But none of those moments or teams would have been possible without those legendary players.
The term “Swag” is one of the most overused terms in today’s professional sports. Every player claims to have it, but few have ever demonstrated it as much as Ken Stabler did. When “The Snake” walked onto the field, there was a sense of confidence and calmness, that swept through the stadium. The Raiders could have been down by 20, but with Stabler on the field, fans knew there was still a chance they could pull out the win.
Stabler defined the term “cool under pressure.” His ability to remain poised and confident, in even the most dire situations, led to the Raiders being one of the most exciting and captivating teams of the NFL. The Raiders led the NFL in dramatic, destiny changing plays in the 70’s. Of course, they didn’t always turn out in the Raiders’ favor (see the Immaculate Reception) but more often than not, the Silver and Black made the impossible possible.
Whether it was the “Sea of Hands” play, which saw Stabler hurling a pass while tumbling to the ground and hitting Clarence Davis amongst a crowd of Miami Dolphins to win a playoff game in 1974, or the “Holy Roller”, which had Stabler in the midst of taking a potentially game ending sack versus the San Diego Chargers, and somehow fumbling, tossing, or swatting, (depending on who you were rooting for) the ball to Dave Casper.
Casper then famously stumbled, kicked and recovered the ball in the end zone, winning the game for the Raiders and inspiring almost 40 years of debates between Raider and Charger fans.
The miracles that Stabler could orchestrate gave his teammates and coaches, a sense of confidence that they were never out of a game.
"I’ve often said, if I had one drive to win a game to this day, and I had to pick, I would pick Kenny,” John Madden told the New York Times"
Watching the Raiders of the 70’s was like a wild roller coaster ride. There were plenty of jolts and turns that would leave your stomach and body on shaky terms in the aftermath. The miraculous comebacks and the heartbreaking defeats would ramp up your heart rate while at the same time stopping it in mid-pump.
Raider fans who were lucky enough to witness all those great moments in history will tell you there was no better time. The Silver and Black had a never say die attitude, and a smooth operator at quarterback who thrived under pressure and lived for the “big play.”
Ken “The Snake” Stabler will be missed, but Raider Nation will never forget.