No. 71, 75 | |
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Position: | Offensive tackle |
Personal information | |
Born: | Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. | April 21, 1950
Height: | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) |
Weight: | 265 lb (120 kg) |
Career information | |
High school: | Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks, California) |
College: | USC |
NFL draft: | 1972 / Round: 2 / Pick: 43 |
Career history | |
Career highlights and awards | |
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Player stats at PFR |
John Vella (born April 21, 1950) is a former American football offensive tackle who played for the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League (NFL) between 1972 and 1979.
Vella prepped at Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, California. The quarterback on this team was future MLB shortstop Tim Foli
Vella played college football at the University of Southern California and was All-America in 1971, and was a member of the baseball team that won the 1970 College World Series.
Joining the Oakland Raiders as a second round pick, Vella started his career as a backup on an offensive line that featured four future Hall of Famers, including tackles Art Shell and Bob Brown. A starter from 1974 to 1976, the 6–4, 265 lb. Vella was part of the Super Bowl XI championship team that dominated the Vikings. From 1977 to 1979, Vella was hampered by injuries, and lost his starting job to Henry Lawrence. His final year in the league, 1980, was spent with the Minnesota Vikings. Vella [1]
In the documentary "America's Game: 1976 Oakland Raiders," Phil Villapiano refers to Vella as "Happy Fella John Vella," saying "Don't upset Happy Fella, 'cause he will tear your head off!"
In 1987, Vella started his business, originally called "John Vella's Raider Locker Room", with one store in Castro Valley, California. At the time, the Raiders played in Los Angeles. The idea was for a retail store that sold only Raiders gear, novelties and collectibles, and catered to the die-hard fan that he remembered from his playing days. He quickly realized he had found a niche, and when the Raiders returned to Oakland in 1995, his business boomed.
Super Bowl XI was an American football game between the American Football Conference (AFC) champion Oakland Raiders and the National Football Conference (NFC) champion Minnesota Vikings to decide the National Football League (NFL) champion for its 1976 season. The Raiders defeated the Vikings by the score of 32–14 to win their first Super Bowl. The game was played on January 9, 1977, at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. This remains the earliest scheduled calendar date for a Super Bowl; and the most recent Super Bowl to begin before 4:00 p.m. ET.
Anthony Ronald Yary is an American former football offensive tackle who played in the National Football League (NFL), primarily for the Minnesota Vikings, and also for the Los Angeles Rams. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1987 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2001. Yary gave credit for his Pro Football Hall of Fame induction to his former coaches, John Ashton John McKay (college) and Bud Grant (professional). He also praised his position coaches Marv Goux, Dave Levy, John Michaels and Jerry Burns.
Ronald Jack Mix is an American former professional football offensive tackle. He is a member of the American Football League All-Time Team, and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1979. Mix played college football for the USC Trojans, where he was named to the All American team. He played at right tackle and guard for the Los Angeles / San Diego Chargers of the American Football League (AFL) and also played for the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League (NFL). While playing in Oakland for the Raiders he was a part of the only offensive line in NFL history to be composed entirely all Hall of Famers. Art Shell, Gene Upshaw, Jim Otto, Ron Mix, and Bob Brown from left to right. An eight-time AFL All-Star (1961–1968) and a nine-time All-AFL (1960–1968) selection, he is also a member of the Los Angeles Chargers Hall of Fame.
Robert Stanford Brown, nicknamed "the Boomer", was an American football offensive tackle who played in the National Football League (NFL) from 1964 through 1973. He played college football for the Nebraska Cornhuskers, earning unanimous All-American honors. Brown was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles as the second overall pick in the 1964 NFL draft. A six-time Pro Bowl selection, he played for the Eagles from 1964 to 1968, the Los Angeles Rams from 1969 to 1970, and the Oakland Raiders from 1971 to 1973. Brown was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1993 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2004.
Robert J. Gallery is an American former professional football player who was an offensive guard who played for eight seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the University of Iowa and received unanimous All-American recognition. He was selected with the second overall pick by the Oakland Raiders in the 2004 NFL draft. He also played for the Seattle Seahawks.
David John Casper nicknamed "the Ghost", is an American former professional football tight end who played in the National Football League (NFL), primarily with the Oakland Raiders. Casper has been inducted into both the College Football Hall of Fame (2012) and the Pro Football Hall of Fame (2002).
John David Tatum was an American professional football safety who played 10 seasons, from 1971 through 1980 with the Oakland Raiders and the Houston Oilers in the National Football League (NFL). He was popularly known as "the Assassin" because of his playing style. Tatum was voted to three consecutive Pro Bowls (1973–1975) and played on one Super Bowl-winning team in nine seasons with the Raiders. He’s also known for a hit he made against New England Patriots wide receiver Darryl Stingley in a 1978 preseason game that paralyzed Stingley from the neck down. He won a national championship at Ohio State.
Tamerlane Lincoln Kennedy is an American former professional football offensive tackle who played in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Washington Huskies, and was recognized as a unanimous All-American in 1992.
Robert Craig Svihus is a former American football offensive tackle in the American Football League (AFL) and the National Football League (NFL) for the Oakland Raiders and New York Jets. He played college football at the University of Southern California
Steven Bruce Riley was an American professional football player who was an offensive tackle for 11 seasons with the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL).
Jackie Ray Slater, nicknamed "Big Bad Jackie", is an American former professional football player who was an offensive tackle for 20 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played his entire career with the Rams franchise: 19 seasons in Los Angeles, from 1976 to 1994, and one in St. Louis in 1995. Slater holds the record amongst all offensive linemen who have played the most seasons with one franchise.
Jeremy "J" Leman is a former American football linebacker. He played college football at the University of Illinois, and was recognized as a consensus All-American. He was signed by the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2008, and has also been a member of the Oakland Raiders, Carolina Panthers, Philadelphia Eagles, and San Diego Chargers. He is currently a football analyst for the Big Ten Network.
Donald Ward Penn is an American former professional football player who was an offensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Utah State Aggies, and was signed by the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2006. Penn was also a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Oakland Raiders, and Washington Redskins.
George Siegrist Buehler, Jr. is a former American football offensive lineman in the American Football League (AFL) and the National Football League (NFL).
Bruce Edward Davis was an American professional football player who was an offensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL) for 11 seasons with the Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders and the Houston Oilers. He played college football for the UCLA Bruins, switching to the offensive line after beginning his collegiate career as a defensive tackle. He won two Super Bowls with the Raiders.
Stephen Hough Wright is a former American football offensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys, Indianapolis Colts and Los Angeles Raiders. He was also a member of the Oakland Invaders of the United States Football League (USFL). He played college football at Northern Iowa and then played eleven professional seasons with four teams from 1981 to 1992. He also appeared on Survivor: Redemption Island where he placed tenth and became the third jury member.
Frank Michael Youso was an American professional football player who was an offensive tackle. He played college football for the Minnesota Golden Gophers and professionally for the New York Giants and Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL) and for the Oakland Raiders of the American Football League (AFL).
Alex Parsons is a former American football center in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at University of Southern California (USC).
Michael Cory Harris is a former American football guard. He played college football at UCLA. He was signed by the San Diego Chargers as an undrafted free agent on April 30, 2012. He has also been a member of the Minnesota Vikings.
Trevor Anthony "T. J." Clemmings is a former American football offensive tackle. He played college football at Pittsburgh. He was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the fourth round of the 2015 NFL draft. He also played for the Washington Redskins and Oakland Raiders.