5 Best Quarterbacks in Raiders History

Carr's legacy is complicated to some Raiders fans, and a notable amount of the complexity of his tenure could be said to have not much to do with him. Carr endured consistent organizational chaos (six head coaches in nine years) and had to learn several different offensive schemes as the turmoil unfolded.

He also had to deal with the franchise -- a staple of the Oakland community -- moving to Las Vegas, which came with different standards, expectations, and optics. His all-time record of 63-79 reflects the sort of teams that were built around him.

Still, Carr went down as the franchise's all-time passing and touchdowns leader, with 35,222 yards and 217 touchdowns at the close of his career, and started 142 regular season games for the team. He also put up four seasons with 4,000-plus passing yards.

4. Jim Plunkett (1978-1986)

Calling Plunkett a Cinderella story feels odd given he was the No. 1 overall pick in the 1971 NFL draft, but that's exactly what the only Heisman Trophy winner out of Stanford became.

Plunkett struggled in his first seven years in the NFL, spent with the Patriots and 49ers, but his career took a 180-degree turn once he arrived in Oakland in 1978.

From there, Plunkett won two Super Bowls, including in his second year as a starter, in 1981's Super Bowl XV, where he became the first Latino quarterback to win Super Bowl MVP. He'd reach the mountaintop once more in 1984, defeating Washington 38-9 in a triumphant performance.

3. Rich Gannon (1999-2004)

Speaking of career resurgences, Gannon's career trajectory mirrors Plunkett's, minus the draft status (Gannon was selected 98th overall by the Patriots in 1987).

What happened to Gannon between 1987 and 1999? He served as a career backup despite a very successful 1992 campaign as a starter in Minnesota, where he led the Vikings to an 8-3 start to the season before being benched. Following stints in Washington and Kansas City, Gannon arrived in Oakland in 1999.

His 2002 season was one of the most remarkable campaigns in Raiders history, as Gannon won NFL MVP honors after leading the NFL with 4,689 passing yards and 26 touchdowns under Jon Gruden's West Coast offense that averaged more than 28 points per game.

In just six seasons with the Raiders, Gannon's name lines the franchise record books, with 17,585 passing yards and 114 touchdowns.

2. Daryle Lamonica (1967-1974)

Lamonica is known as one of the architects of the gritty Raider Nation mentality, a fearless deep-ball passer who played with an infectious swagger.

Under head coach Al Davis, Lamonica immediately led the Raiders to an AFL championship after being acquired from the Buffalo Bills in 1967. He helped secure four consecutive division titles from 1967 to 1970, leading the Raiders to an appearance in Super Bowl II.

Lamonica's tenure with the Raiders was among the most successful in franchise history, as he led the team to a 66-16-4 record as a starter (78.4% win percentage).

1. Ken Stabler (1970-1979)

The prior four players are all greats in their own right, but Stabler is the all-time face of the Raiders franchise.

"The Snake" was known as the ultimate clutch quarterback; he was the architect of several iconic last-minute comebacks, including the iconic "Sea of Hands" play in the 1974 AFC divisional game against the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Miami Dolphins.

Stabler, who was hit as he threw, lofted a ball up to running back Clarence Davis, who improbably secured the catch even while swarmed by Dolphins defenders.

That 1974 season was one of the best in Raiders history, as Stabler won NFL MVP, led the team to a 12-2 record, and paced the league with 26 touchdowns.

Stabler, the left-handed product of Bear Bryant and Alabama, will always be known as the face of the Raiders' five consecutive AFC championship appearances from 1973 to 1977, finally getting over the hump in 1977's Super Bowl XI.

Posthumously inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2016, Stabler is the highlight of any Raiders quarterback rankings one could conjure up.

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