SAN FRANCISCO -– Quarterback Ken Stabler has long been a Raiders legend. Now his NFL legacy has been cemented.
The gunslinger affectionately known as “The Snake” was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday in San Francisco, earning his sport’s highest honor after being nominated by the body’s senior committee.
Stabler supporters had long lamented his exclusion from the Hall of Fame and the fact he hadn’t been a modern-era finalist since 2003. Affection for Stabler’s career increased after his death on July 8, 2015 due to complications of colon cancer. Stabler’s passing was a shock to the NFL community, and made many realize he was worthy of this honor.
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Stabler was the NFL’s MVP in 1974 and led the Raiders to victory in Super Bowl XI. He led the Raiders to five straight AFC championship games, and finished his career with a 96-49-1 record and was 7-5 in the postseason. When he retired, Stabler’s .661 winning percentage was behind only Roger Staubach and Terry Bradshaw.
The four-time Pro Bowler had better numbers than other Hall of Fame quarterbacks, but took some time to garner support for induction.
Stabler was the public face of those dominant Raiders teams of the mid-1970’s, when the franchise gained national notoriety. He personified the team’s renegade reputation, and was unafraid to throw deep and make big plays. That led to a high interception count, but was also the source of many clutch moments.
The Alabama product was always counted among the best of his era, but lost statistical comparisons to quarterbacks from more recent decades.
In his career, Stabler finished with 27,938 yards passing, 194 touchdowns and 222 interceptions.
Being a senior nominee greased the wheels for Stabler’s induction. The 46-member selection committee conducted a simple yes or no vote on him, as opposed to the whittle-down process given to modern-era candidates.
