super bowl history, super bowl winners

The Late John Rauch Watching Game Films in 1966

John Rauch, who succeeded Al Davis as the coach of the Oakland Raiders in 1966 has passed into Super Bowl history. Rauch, who was 80 years old, died from a suspected heart problem. Rauch had joined the Raiders coaching staff as an assistant coach in 1963, then replaced Davis for the 1966 season after Davis became the commissioner of the American Football League. In only his second season as the Raiders' head coach, Rauch guided them to an appearance in the second Super Bowl against the then-unstoppable Green Bay Packers. The Raiders lost 33-14 in a game that has passed into the mists of Super Bowl history, but they would have other chances at Super Bowl victory; the Raiders have so far played in a total of five Super Bowl games. And although the Raiders weren't Super Bowl winners that first time out, the players and staff all thought highly of John Rauch. After coaching the Raiders for three more seasons, Rauch went on to coach the Buffalo Bills and was replaced as the Raiders' head coach by the great John Madden. Although Rauch never coached any Super Bowl winners, his place in Super Bowl history is assured by that second Super Bowl berth for the Raiders.