1969 Oakland Raiders season

1969 Oakland Raiders season
OwnerF. Wayne Valley
General managerAl Davis
Head coachJohn Madden
Home fieldOakland–Alameda County Coliseum
Results
Record12–1–1
Division place1st AFL Western
Playoff finishWon Divisional Playoffs
(vs. Oilers) 56–7
Lost AFL Championship
(vs. Chiefs) 7–17

The 1969 Oakland Raiders season was the team's tenth as a franchise, and tenth in both Oakland and the American Football League. The campaign saw the team attempt to improve upon its 12–2 record from 1968. The season is notable for being the last for the AFL, which merged into the NFL in 1970.

The Raiders stormed to a 12–1–1 record in 1969 and led the league in wins for a third consecutive season. In doing so, they posted a staggering 37–4–1 (.893) record over their final three years of AFL regular season play. The season ended with an upset loss at home in the AFL Championship Game to division rival Kansas City, the eventual Super Bowl champion.

Additionally, the season marked the debut of Hall of Fame head coach John Madden, previously the linebacker coach,[1][2] promoted after the January departure of John Rauch for Buffalo.[3][4] Madden led the Raiders to seven division titles, seven AFL/AFC Championship Games, and a Super Bowl championship before leaving after 1978, his tenth as head coach, with a 112–39–7 (.731) regular season record.

  1. ^ "Madden is named new Raider coach". Milwaukee Journal. Associated Press. February 5, 1969. p. 21, part 2.
  2. ^ "Ex-Duck Madden takes Raider reins". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. February 5, 1969. p. 1D.
  3. ^ "Oakland's Rauch shuffles off to Buffalo - stealthily". Milwaukee Journal. press dispatches. January 17, 1969. p. 15, part 2.
  4. ^ "Raiders' Rauch leaves, accepts job with Bills". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. January 17, 1969. p. 3B.