Las Vegas Raiders legend gets gifted what no other alumnus has

Once a Raider, always a Raider. That's the saying the Las Vegas Raiders as a franchise have used ever since the franchise was started. That's one of the reasons the franchise is so unique and well-respected.

They have had some really great players come through and become legends, whether it be because of what they did on the field, or what they did off of it. Recently, the Raiders have had some legends pass away, like Jim Otto, the original Raider, and Carl Weathers, one of the most talented people you'll ever meet.

Weathers wasn't just talented on the field, but off, too.

Carl Weathers was drafted by the Oakland Raiders in the sixth round of the 1970 NFL Draft. He played as a linebacker. Weathers' NFL career was relatively short, spanning from 1970 to 1973. During his time with the Raiders, he played in 41 games, starting in 10 of them. His stats included 114 tackles, one interception, and one fumble recovery. While not a star player, his physicality and leadership qualities were huge.

Weathers' football career was cut short by a knee injury, which led to his retirement from the sport in 1974. This injury, while ending his football career, opened the door to his acting career.

Post-football, Weathers pursued acting, leveraging his athletic background to land roles that required physical presence. His most famous role came as Apollo Creed in the "Rocky" series, starting with "Rocky" in 1976. His portrayal of Creed, a charismatic and skilled boxer, became iconic.

Beyond "Rocky," Weathers appeared in various films and TV shows, often playing tough, authoritative figures. His roles included appearances in "Predator," "Action Jackson," and TV shows like "Arrested Development" and "The Mandalorian," where he played the character Greef Karga.