Pete Banaszak, former Oakland Raiders running back, dies at 82

Former Oakland Raiders running back Pete Banaszak has died at the age of 82, according to a team announcement. Banaszak played 13 seasons in the professional ranks, all with the Raiders, following his selection in the fifth round of the 1966 AFL draft from the University of Miami.

A key figure in franchise history, Banaszak was a member of the Raiders’ first Super Bowl championship team. He is notably remembered for his role in the “Holy Roller” play and for leading the NFL with 16 rushing touchdowns in 1975, a figure that remains the Raiders' all-time single-season record.

Throughout his career, Banaszak accumulated 3,772 rushing yards, ranking eighth in franchise history, and scored 47 total rushing touchdowns. In 1990, he was inducted into the National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame. The Raiders organization released a statement expressing condolences to his wife, Sue, his daughters, and his grandsons.