Gene Upshaw – R.I.P.

I first became a Raider fan in 1970 when I first saw Daryle Lamonica play. #3 was called ‘The Mad Bomber’ and I loved the way that Lamonica aired out the football to the ‘stickum-handed’ Fred Biletnikoff.

Gene Upshaw

As any football fan knows, without a solid front line, a quarterback has no time to make great plays and running backs do not get their holes to scoot through. Guard Gene Upshaw, along with Art Shell and Jim Otto were the core of the Raider line and helped establish their explosive offense of the late 60′s and into the 70′s.

Upshaw was a leader on the field, having played all of his 15 seasons with the Raiders. It made natural sense that after his career, he became the head of the NFL Player’s Association for 25 years.

Thank you, Gene, for inspiring this lifelong Raider Fan.

Hall of Famer, NFLPA Executive Director Gene Upshaw dead at 63 – NFL.com