The Raiders have lost another valuable figure: Former running back and Super Bowl champion Pete Banaszak has died at 82. He spent his entire 13-year career with the Oakland Raiders. Known for his toughness and ability to make plays in critical situations, he was a significant part of the Raiders' offense.
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Banaszak played college ball at Miami and joined Oakland in 1966, where he played an important role in the team's backfield. His physical running style made him effective in the red zone. In 1975, Banaszak had his best season, scoring 16 rushing touchdowns, the Raiders' single-season record.
In 1976, Banaszak played an important role in Oakland's first Super Bowl win, as the Raiders beat the Minnesota Vikings, 32-13. Other players got the recognition, but the former 13-year veteran brought the toughness championship teams need.
In 1978, against the San Diego Chargers, the former Miami Star was involved in a play called the Holy Roller. After Oakland's quarterback Ken Stabler struck the football, Banaszak batted it forward before Dave Casper recovered it in the end zone for the winning touchdown. The controversial play became one of the NFL's most memorable plays.
Banaszak finished his career with 3,772 rushing yards and 47 rushing touchdowns in 173 regular-season games. His toughness and physical play defined the old-school Raiders.
This article originally appeared on Raiders Wire: Raiders legend Pete Banaszak dies at age 82