Raiders Mourn Death of Super Bowl Champion and Franchise Record Holder at 82

The Las Vegas Raiders are mourning the loss of a former Super Bowl champion who helped create some of the franchise's most memorable moments.

Pete Banaszak, who spent his entire 13-year professional career with the Oakland Raiders, has died at 82, the team announced Saturday.

Banaszak played a key role in the Raiders' first Super Bowl championship and still holds a franchise record nearly 50 years after his retirement.

"The Raiders Family mourns the passing of Pete Banaszak, whose toughness, competitive spirit, and dedication embodied a legendary era of Raiders football and made him a cherished member of the Silver and Black," the team said in a statement.

Selected in the fifth round of the 1966 AFL Draft out of Miami, Banaszak played 173 regular-season games for Oakland from 1966 through 1978.

His finest statistical season came in 1975, when he rushed for 672 yards and an NFL-leading 16 touchdowns.

That rushing touchdown total remains the Raiders' single-season franchise record.

Banaszak followed with another memorable performance during the 1976 season, scoring two rushing touchdowns in Oakland's 32-14 victory over the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl XI.

The win gave the Raiders their first Super Bowl title after years of playoff disappointment.

But Banaszak also secured his place in NFL history through his involvement in the famous "Holy Roller" play against the San Diego Chargers on Sept. 10, 1978.

Trailing 20-14 in the final seconds, Raiders quarterback Ken Stabler fumbled the ball forward while being pressured.

Banaszak attempted to recover the loose ball, knocking it farther downfield before tight end Dave Casper eventually recovered it in the end zone.

The ensuing extra point gave Oakland an improbable 21-20 victory.

The controversial play eventually led to changes in NFL rules restricting an offense's ability to advance a fumble.

Banaszak retired after the 1978 season with 3,772 rushing yards, 47 rushing touchdowns, 1,022 receiving yards and five receiving scores.

His passing comes as the Raiders continue to remember important figures from their championship history.

The organization previously mourned former safety George Atkinson, another member of Oakland's Super Bowl XI championship team.

Earlier this year, the Raiders also announced the death of former linebacker Rod Martin, who helped the franchise win two later Super Bowls.

A Wisconsin native, Banaszak was inducted into the National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame in 1990.

He is survived by his wife, Sue, daughters Rebecca and Amy, and grandsons Luke, Austin and Connor.