By Darin Imagine a world where the Silver and Black were called the “Oakland Senors.” On April 14, 1960, the Oakland AFL franchise traded this widely mocked nickname for the now-iconic “Raiders.” This date isn’t just about a team name change. It’s also a celebration of gridiron polymaths—like Eddie Rogers, a pioneering Native American star and longtime attorney; Mal Stevens, a Yale coach who also taught orthopedic surgery; and the acrobatic passer Harry Gilmer. Join us as we uncover the legends born and rebranded on this pivotal day in football history.
First, a break to appreciate some gridiron artwork and the history it depicts.
April 14 American Football History Timeline
- April 14, 1960 – A team naming. Back on March 20, the new Oakland AFL franchise kicked off its “Name Your Football Team” contest. Soon, the franchise announced that the nickname “Senors” was the most popular answer. On April 14, the team announced that the nickname was being changed to the “Raiders.” (source)
- The 1969 NFL-AFL Draft (1969): Fifty-seven years ago today, the NFL and AFL were in the final stages of finalizing the details for their first post-merger season. This date was a deadline for several “inter-league” paperwork filings that officially consolidated the scouting reports for the upcoming 1970 transition.
April 14 Football Hall of Fame Birthdays
Happy Birthday to these gridiron legends! Since today is April 14, we celebrate a trio of College Football Hall of Famers whose careers spanned the transition from the rugged early days of the sport to the explosive “jump-pass” era of the 1940s.
Here is the list in order of birth:
- Eddie Rogers [1876] A trailblazing Native American athlete, Rogers was a standout end who helped put the Carlisle Indian Industrial School on the national map before starring for Minnesota’s undefeated 1903 team. A 1968 Hall of Fame inductee, he later coached Carlisle to a 9-2 record and enjoyed a remarkable 62-year career as a lawyer, practicing until the age of 90.
- Mal Stevens [1900] Regarded by Grantland Rice as one of the greatest running backs of his era, Stevens anchored Yale’s perfect 1923 season before becoming the nation’s youngest major head coach at age 28. A true polymath, he balanced his football legacy—which included coaching the AAFC’s Brooklyn Dodgers—with a medical degree and a career as an orthopedic surgeon.
- Harry Gilmer [1926] Celebrating his 100th birthday anniversary today, Gilmer was the Alabama sensation famous for his acrobatic “jump-pass” style and a perfect 8-for-8 passing performance in the 1945 Sugar Bowl. The 1993 Hall of Fame inductee led the nation in multiple categories as a triple-threat star before a professional career as a quarterback and head coach for the Detroit Lions.
Conclusion
April 14 marks the birth of the “Raider Nation” identity and the arrival of Hall of Fame talents. These figures mastered both the playbook and work beyond the field. The stories of April 14 show that the game’s greatest had as much brilliance off the field as on it. From Harry Gilmer’s jumping passes to the administrative skill of Oakland’s front office, today’s anniversaries shape gridiron character and culture.
