The Oakland Raiders are now in mourning as Tuesday it was revealed that 72-year-old former defensive end Ben Davidson passed away after a battling prostate cancer.
Davidson started his National Football League career with the Green Bay Packers in 1961 and then played for the Washington Redskins in 1962 and 1963 before finally coming to the Oakland Raiders in the American Football League in 1964.
At 6-foot-8 Davidson was a mountain of a man at that time, along with his handle bar mustache and physical play Davidson set the tone for what Raiders football was all about. A reputation that still last to this very day.
”Their attitude was, if you’ve got a shot at the quarterback, take it,” Kansas City Chief quarterback Len Dawson recalled in 2010.
One of Davidson’s most memorable plays came on Nov. 1, 1970, against Kansas City. The Raiders trailed 17-14 late in the fourth quarter when Chiefs quarterback Len Dawson ran for a first down to seemingly seal the win. As Dawson was on the ground, Davidson dived into him with his helmet.
This set off a brawl, which happened to negate the play and eventually force the Chiefs to punt. The Raiders the marched down the field and tied the game on a George Blanda field goal, which ultimately proved the difference in winning the division and making the playoffs.
After football Davidson went on to appear in several films and a Miller Lite commercial where he played himself.