The rivalry between the Denver Broncos and the Las Vegas Raiders stands as one of the fiercest in the NFL, with legendary owner Al Davis at the center of decades of bad blood between the two AFC West foes.
The Raiders dominated the league for more than two decades under Davis’s leadership, capturing three Super Bowl titles and establishing themselves as one of professional football’s most successful franchises. Their swagger and success made them both feared and despised throughout the league.
Hall of Fame tight end Shannon Sharpe recently offered a unique perspective on this storied rivalry, revealing how Davis’s treatment of Mike Shanahan intensified an already heated division battle.
Shannon Sharpe Unpacks Broncos-Raiders Bad Blood: Al Davis, Mike Shanahan & Unpaid Dues
Davis became the Raiders’ part-owner and general manager in 1966, ascending to principal owner in 1972 and holding that position until his death in 2011. Under his leadership from 1967 to 1985, the Raiders clinched 12 division titles and won three Super Bowl championships (XI, XV and XVIII), establishing a dynasty that defined an era of professional football.
The Raiders cultivated a rebellious image during their years of dominance. Davis famously embraced players other teams shunned, building rosters filled with castoffs and controversial figures who embodied the franchise’s renegade spirit. This approach, combined with their on-field success, created the mystique of the “Silver and Black.”
During a recent episode of the “Nightcap” show with Chad Ochocinco, Sharpe revealed details about how Davis’s contentious relationship with two-time Super Bowl-winning coach Shanahan added fuel to an already combustible rivalry.
“We hated the Raiders. Mike Shanahan became our head coach. Mike was the coach for the Raiders for like 20 games, and then Al Davis fired him and then wouldn’t pay him his money,” Sharpe said.
Sharpe revealed that Davis essentially dared Shanahan to take legal action, telling the coach that litigation would cost more than the money owed. When Shanahan shared this story with the Broncos squad after becoming their head coach in 1995, it ignited a new level of determination to beat their division rivals.
The Hall of Fame tight end also provided insight into the Raiders’ aggressive playing style during that era.
“Raiders are one team you ain’t really got to study no film because they’re gonna be right there in front of you. They are going to play man coverage every snap. They’re going to cheap shot at you,” Sharpe said.
“But I’m going to get my lick on somebody. Either I’m going to get you or I’m going to get your teammate, but somebody’s going to get the same thing.”
The dispute between Davis and Shanahan centered on $250,000 in back pay that Davis refused to provide after firing Shanahan in October 1989. Shanahan had served as the Raiders’ head coach for one full season in 1988 and four games into the 1989 season, compiling an 8-12 record before his dismissal.
The NFL ruled in Shanahan’s favor in 1990, ordering Davis to pay the money owed. However, Davis appealed the decision and never paid, maintaining that Shanahan had received a loan from the franchise upon his hiring that offset any money owed. The dispute became a public spectacle, with both sides trading accusations of dishonesty and bad faith.
How Davis-Shanahan Shaped Modern NFL Rivalries
This personal animosity between Davis and Shanahan transformed their teams’ meetings into must-watch television. During Shanahan’s 14 seasons as Broncos head coach (1995-2008), Denver posted a remarkable 21-7 record against the Raiders, reversing years of Oakland dominance. Before Shanahan’s arrival, the Broncos had lost 13 of 15 games against the Raiders from 1988 to 1994.
The rivalry’s intensity during this period produced memorable moments and controversial plays that are still discussed today. The bad blood extended beyond the field, with players from both teams engaging in heated exchanges and physical confrontations that often drew penalties and fines.
Davis’s influence on professional football extended far beyond this rivalry. His motto, “Just win, baby,” became synonymous with the Raiders’ culture, and his willingness to challenge NFL authority through lawsuits and bold personnel moves made him one of the sport’s most polarizing figures. The franchise he built remains one of the NFL’s most recognizable brands, now competing as the Las Vegas Raiders after relocating from Oakland in 2020.
The Broncos-Raiders rivalry continues to this day, though it lacks some of the personal venom that characterized the Davis-Shanahan era. Their twice-yearly meetings remain circled on calendars throughout the AFC West, a testament to the lasting impact of one of professional football’s most bitter feuds.