Former Raiders RB Pete Banaszak Dies At 82

After a three-year collegiate career at Miami, Banaszak was selected by the Oakland Raiders during the 1966 AFL draft. A fifth-round pick in that event, he went on to become one of the team’s most impactful players of that era. Banaszak played 13 seasons as a professional, all of which were as a member of the Raiders.

After four seasons in the AFL, he remained in place following the merger in 1970. In all, Banaszak went on to play 192 combined regular and postseason games. He was a member of the Raiders’ first Super Bowl winning team and a key figure in the “Holy Roller” play.

Banaszak totaled 3,772 rushing yards in his career, which ranks eighth in franchise history. His 16 rushing touchdowns in 1975 led the NFL that year. It also remains the all-time single-season record for the Raiders. Banaszak ran for 47 touchdowns in his career, second only to Marcus Allen in terms of franchise history in that department.

A durable player throughout his career, Banaszak made at least 10 appearances each season with the Raiders. He ended up hanging up his cleats after the 1978 campaign. Banaszak’s post-playing days included an induction into the National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame in 1990.

“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,” a team statement reads in part. “The deepest condolences of the entire Raider Nation are with Pete’s wife Sue, daughters Rebecca and Amy, grandsons Luke, Austin, and Connor, and all of his loved ones.”