Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis died this morning at 82. He was a pivotal figure in NFL history and among the most notable owners in the league. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell called him a "true legend."
Two members of the Jets organization shared their thoughts on the Davis' passing.
"We’d like to extend our deepest sympathies to the Davis family, Raiders organization and Raiders fans on the loss of Al Davis," Jets owner Woody Johnson said in a statement. "Al was a pioneer whose passion was deeply rooted in the game of professional football that he helped to shape at every level. A unique man of conviction, Al had a profound impact on the National Football League as we know it today and will forever be identified with the team he loved so much – the Raiders.”
Offensive line coach Bill Callahan was a member of the Raiders' organization for six years. From 1998-2001 he was the offensive coordinator and then the head coach in 2002 and 2003, taking them to a Super Bowl.
“My sincerest condolences go out to the Davis family, Raiders organization and Raiders fans on the passing of Al Davis, one of the true NFL icons," Callahan said. "A visionary who was ahead of the curve in so many ways, Coach Davis had a great grasp of personnel, schemes and strategy. I learned a tremendous amount of football during my six years with his organization. His sole focus and passion in life was the Raiders. He was at practice every day and very aware of what was going on organizationally. He challenged you to be your best and I will always be grateful for the opportunity he gave me as a head coach.”
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