Carol Davis, Beloved Raider Nation Figure, Passes Away at 93

Carol Davis, the widow of longtime Las Vegas Raiders owner Al Davis and mother of current owner Mark Davis, has died at the age of 93. Her passing was announced by the team on Sunday, following her death on Friday. In her honor, Mark Davis lit the Al Davis Memorial Torch at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

The Raiders expressed their heartfelt condolences, stating, “Carol has provided unlimited support and unparalleled guidance to the Davis family and Raiders organization for more than 60 years. Her direct impact on the Raiders’ greatness is still felt, cherished, respected, and woven into the fabric of this historic franchise. If Al was the heart of the Raiders, Carol was the soul.”

Al and Carole Davis, who married in 1954, became iconic figures in Raiders football. They established a legacy when Carole was hired as a coach in 1963, leading the team during its three Super Bowl victories in 1976, 1980, and 1983. Their only child, Mark, was born in 1955 and took over the team after his father’s death in 2011 while Carol retained some ownership.

Though Carol Davis didn’t typically play a public role with the team, she was present for significant events, including the groundbreaking ceremony at Allegiant Stadium when the Raiders moved from Oakland in 2017. Notably, she lit the memorial torch dedicated to her late husband during the Raiders’ first home game in Las Vegas in 2020, although fans were not allowed due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Carol Davis also honored former Raiders head coach Tom Flores, who was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2021. Mark Davis reflected on her influence, saying, “There’s no one else who could have lit a fire other than her… It means a lot for my mom to light the torch.”

The Raiders announced that there will be a private service held in Oakland, along with a future celebration of her life.

In a statement, the team remarked, “Mrs. Davis has ascended to heaven to take her rightful place on the great throne next to her husband Al, and both of them are wrapped in the cloak of immortality.”