The Las Vegas Raiders were saddened to learn of the passing of Carol Davis, the widow of iconic Raiders owner Al Davis, who passed at the age of 93 on Friday according to a team announcement.
“Carol provided unbridled support and unparalleled guidance to the Davis family and the Raiders organization for over 60 years,” the Raiders said in a statement. “Her direct impact on the Greatness of the Raiders continues to be felt, cherished, and honored, and is woven into the fabric of this historic franchise. If Al was the heart of the Raiders, Carol was the soul.”
The Davis family has been associated with the Raiders since 1963, when the team joined the American Football League as the Oakland Raiders. Al Davis coached the Raiders for the team for its first three years, then became commissioner of the AFL in 1966. When the AFL and NFL merged, Davis returned to the Raiders and purchased a partial stake in the team.
Al Davis eventually gained full control of the Raiders after buying out the other team owners, and he and Carol saw the organization win Super Bowls in 1977, 1981 and 1984. Carol Davis was known as the “First Lady of Raider Nation” throughout her years with Al and the franchise.
Carol continued to lead the Raiders alongside her son, Mark, after Al Davis died in 2011. The Raiders also said a private service will be held for Carol in Oakland, with plans for a celebration of her life to be determined at a future date.
The team also noted that Carol was present for the Hall of Fame induction of former coach and player Tom Flores after Al passed. According to an article written by Vic Tafur of the The Athletic, the team also issued a statement when that occurred: “Lovingly referred to as ‘Carolee’ by her husband, she continued the tradition of him presenting a record nine inductees into the Pro Football Hall of Fame when she performed those honors for the enshrinement of the great Tom Flores in 2021.”
Both Al and Mark Davis spoke frequently about Carol’s toughness. She sustained a massive heart attack and stroke 45 years ago and spent 23 days in a coma, but Carol retained her memory and got around using a walker, traveling to road games with her husband and then her son for decades. Current owner Mark Davis, who was born in 1955, was the only child of Al and Carol Davis.