Former Raiders linebacker Gus Otto will light the Al Davis Memorial Torch prior to kickoff of Friday's Las Vegas Raiders-San Francisco 49ers preseason game.
Otto was drafted by Al Davis and the Raiders in the fourth round of the 1965 AFL Draft and immediately made an impact in his rookie season. He intercepted three passes, returning two for touchdowns, and was named to the AFL All-Rookie Team.
Number 34 was a member of the "Eleven Angry Men," Oakland's famed and feared 1967 American Football League Championship defense, and was a starter for the Raiders in Super Bowl II against the Green Bay Packers.
He appeared in 102 games (95 starts) and finished his career with six interceptions, four fumble recoveries and was an AFL All Star in 1969.
Otto is the latest of a distinguished list that have been bestowed the honor, beginning with the late John Madden, who was the first to light the torch on October 18, 2011. The First Lady of Raider Nation, Mrs. Carol Davis, was the first to light the Al Davis Memorial Torch honoring her late husband in Las Vegas prior to the Raiders' inaugural contest at Allegiant Stadium on September 21, 2020.
Since the tradition began in 2011 in Oakland, many Raiders Alumni, celebrities and fans have had the privilege to light the Torch before each home game. The Al Davis Memorial Torch is a tribute to Mr. Davis' legacy as the Raiders' longtime owner, Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee, AFL Coach of the Year, AFL Commissioner, and the architect of the Raiders' Commitment to Excellence in recognition of Mr. Davis' enduring vision that "the fire that burns the brightest in the Raiders' organization is the will to win."
