Pete Banaszak, Raiders Super Bowl XI Champion and 'Holy Roller' Participant, Dies at 82

Former Oakland Raiders running back Pete Banaszak, a key figure in the team's first Super Bowl victory and one of the NFL's most memorable plays, has died at the age of 82. The Raiders organization announced his passing on Saturday, remembering him as a player whose "toughness, competitive spirit, and dedication embodied a legendary era of Raiders football."

Banaszak was a significant contributor to the Raiders' Super Bowl XI triumph over the Minnesota Vikings, scoring two touchdowns in the game. He also played a crucial role in the "Holy Roller" play during his final season in 1978. In a game against the Chargers, with time expiring and the Raiders trailing, Banaszak recovered a fumbled ball and batted it forward to tight end Dave Casper, who scored the game-winning touchdown. This improbable play secured a 21-20 victory for Oakland and remains one of the most famous moments in NFL history.

Despite primarily being a reserve player, starting just 36 of the 173 games he played in his 13-year career, Banaszak made a lasting impact. His best individual season came in 1975, when he rushed for a career-high 672 yards and a league-leading 16 touchdowns, a mark that still stands as a Raiders single-season record. Over his career, Banaszak accumulated 3,772 rushing yards, 1,022 receiving yards, and 52 touchdowns, adding six more in the playoffs.

Born in Wisconsin, Banaszak was also noted for his pride in his Polish heritage, which led to his induction into the National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame in 1990. The Raiders extended their condolences to his wife Sue, his daughters Rebecca and Amy, and his grandsons.