Who Is Al Davis? Age, Biography and Wiki
Al Davis, an iconic American football coach and executive, was born on July 4, 1929. He became a pivotal figure in the NFL and is best known for his leadership with the Oakland Raiders. Davis passed away on October 8, 2011, but his influence on the sport remains profound. By 2025, if he were still alive, he would be 96 years old. His innovative spirit and relentless drive reshaped professional football in numerous ways, marking him as one of the sport's most influential figures.
| Occupation | Sports Executive |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | July 4, 1929 |
| Age | 82 Years |
| Birth Place | Brockton, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Horoscope | Cancer |
| Country | U.S |
| Date of death | 8 October, 2011 |
| Died Place | Oakland, California, U.S. |
Popularity
Al Davis's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
Although Al Davis's exact height and weight are not widely documented, he was known for his commanding presence in the football world. Typically, executives and coaches in football vary in height, but it is suggested he stood around 6 feet tall. His athletic background contributed to a sturdy frame, ideal for the pressures of high-stakes coaching and management.
Davis graduated from high school in January 1947, immediately enrolling at Wittenberg College in Springfield, Ohio at age 17. The school had recruited Davis, although it did not extend him a scholarship. He spent a semester there, occupying himself with baseball and plans to transfer to a higher-profile school.
In mid-1947, he transferred to Syracuse University. Although Davis repeatedly tried out for the various varsity teams, the height of his athletic career at Syracuse was warming the bench for the junior varsity baseball team.
Frustrated by this, he briefly transferred to Hartwick College, also in New York State, in 1948, but soon returned to Syracuse. Despite Davis's lack of athletic success, he commonly mingled with varsity athletes, many of whom assumed he was also one but on another team.
Unsuccessful in his efforts to join the men's basketball team, Davis became interested in football strategy, and haunted the football team's practices until asked to leave by the head coach, suspicious of Davis for taking notes.
Davis also took the academic courses in football strategy given by the assistant coaches, and ordinarily attended only by players.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Al Davis was married to his wife, Carol, from 1951 until his passing. The couple had two children, Mark and Alana, who have continued his legacy in the football world. Davis was known for his loyalty and dedication to family, and although his primary relationship was with his wife, he held many close friendships in the professional realm.
Davis' father, Louis Davis, worked in a variety of trades in Massachusetts; having found some success in the garment manufacturing field, he moved to Brooklyn, New York, in 1934 with his wife, Rose, and their two sons, Jerry and Allen.
Louis Davis rented a sixth-floor walkup for his family off Utica Avenue, became very successful in the garment trade, and put his two sons through college before seeking a more comfortable dwelling in Atlantic Beach, New York.
Although there are a number of stories of Louis Davis backing his younger son in anything so long as the boy did not get caught or back down from a confrontation, most of these stories derive from Al Davis. Childhood friends depicted him as more of a talker than a fighter, although very good with his mouth.
Young Al's sport of choice was basketball, and he gained a reputation of a hard player, if not the most skillful. As a boy, he was determined to play for Coach Al Badain at Erasmus Hall High School, passing up the opportunity to attend school closer to his house.
Although he was only a reserve on the Erasmus team, and did not play much, Davis studied Badain's coaching techniques, and felt he learned much from him. In the 1980s, with Badain ill and in need, Davis brought his elderly former coach to the West Coast to witness his Raiders in the Super Bowl, and paid the man's debts.
Net Worth and Salary
At the time of his passing, Al Davis had a substantial net worth, estimated to be around $500 million. His wealth was primarily accrued through his successful career with the Raiders, lucrative endorsements, and various investments. Apart from his role with the team, Davis had an eye for business opportunities that further enhanced his financial standings.
A number of names were rumored to be in contention for the Raiders head coaching job, from Green Bay Packers coach Vince Lombardi to Lou Agase, former coach of the Canadian Football League's Toronto Argonauts. On January 1, 1963, Davis met with Valley and the other Raiders general partner, Ed McGah.
According to witnesses present at the negotiations, Davis did not have a high opinion of Valley and McGah, indicating during their absence that they did not know the right questions to ask. They offered him a one-year contract as head coach.
He declined, insisting on a multi-year deal as both head coach and general manager, with complete control over football operations, to which they eventually agreed and settled on a three-year stint at an annual salary of $20,000.
According to Davis biographer Ira Simmons, the date that Davis came to Oakland, January 18, 1963, "was probably one of the three or four most important dates in AFL history. Maybe NFL history too." Valley later stated, "we needed someone who wanted to win so badly, he would do anything.
Everywhere I went, people told me what a son of a bitch Al Davis was, so I figured he must be doing something right."
Career, Business and Investments
Al Davis's career began as a coach and scout before he rose through the ranks to become the owner and general manager of the Oakland Raiders. Under his leadership, the Raiders became a dominant force in the NFL, winning three Super Bowl championships. Davis was known for his maverick attitude, embracing the "Just Win, Baby" philosophy that has inspired generations of players and coaches.
In addition to football, Davis also explored various business ventures, including real estate investments, that contributed to his overall wealth and provided financial security for his family.
In job hunting, he would introduce himself as "Davis from Syracuse", likely intentionally to conflate with George Davis, star halfback for the school's football team. Turned down at Hofstra University and by Bill Altenberg, athletic director at Adelphi University (both on Long Island), he approached Adelphi's president.
What went on between the two men is not known; his biographer Mark Ribowsky suggests Davis used a combination of "bluff and con," but a half hour after Altenberg dismissed Davis from his office, he received a call from the president that he had a new freshman football coach.
Social Network
Though Al Davis passed away in 2011, his legacy lives on through various social media platforms and websites dedicated to football history. The official Raiders social media accounts often share tributes and memories, ensuring fans remember his contributions to the sport. Additionally, fans and sports analysts frequently engage in discussions about Davis's impact on football, keeping his memory alive in the digital age.
In 1952, with his student deferral ended upon receipt of his master's degree, Davis was inducted into the United States Army. He quickly secured a place attached to a public relations unit near Syracuse, and set about obtaining a place on one of the coaching staff for the military's football teams.
General Stanley Scott of Fort Belvoir, Virginia, obtained Davis's services in 1953 as football coach for his post's football squad. At the time, military football was taken very seriously; the teams were well-stocked with drafted college stars, and often scrimmaged National Football League teams.
Davis coached Fort Belvoir, just south of Washington, D.C., to a record of eight wins, two losses, and one tie (8–2–1), missing a chance to play in the Poinsettia Bowl in San Diego because of a final-game loss to the nearby Quantico Marine Base. As a private first class, he was often coaching players of a higher rank, including officers.
Near the end of 1952, he was called to testify before a congressional committee investigating whether athletes were being coddled in the military. Although most of Davis's team was sent to Korea, he remained at Fort Belvoir until his discharge in 1954. While coaching in the army, Davis sold scouting information about his players to NFL teams.
One NFL executive who contacted Davis was Pete Rozelle of the Los Angeles Rams, but as Rozelle had been allocated no money, Davis gave him no information.
Education
Al Davis attended Syracuse University, where he played college football. His education and early involvement in sports laid the foundation for his successful career in professional football. Throughout his life, Davis emphasized the importance of education and mentorship, often encouraging young athletes to pursue academic excellence alongside their athletic careers.
Despite Davis's slight role on his high school team, Raiders media guides later published descriptions of Davis which depicted him as a schoolboy star, only to have the claims scaled back—slightly—in future editions after reporters investigated the matter.
His lack of football playing experience (he did play football for his high school fraternity) made him one of the few to be a head coach in the NFL or AFL despite never having played even for the high school varsity.
