Over 250 Raiders Alumni convened in Las Vegas this past weekend for the team's 2024 Alumni Reunion.
Alumni and their guests were treated to a bowling outing on Thursday night before watching the Raiders' final preseason game versus San Francisco from Allegiant Stadium's Wynn Field Club.
The reunion came on the heels of the team's inaugural Raiders Alumni Wellness Weekend, which was held in June at The M Resort in Henderson, Nevada.
"Our alumni relations team, led by Shannon Jordan, do an incredible job of constantly thinking of new ways to engage our alumni and make sure they are aware of their benefits and resources," Raiders President Sandra Douglass Morgan said.
That continued commitment to support those who have donned the Silver and Black hit home with former Raiders wide receiver Rocket Ismail.
"It is immensely significant," he said. "It's beyond cool to be a part of a legendary organization and that the organization actually shows the players that you matter and that they care about you. To me, it feels profound. These last couple days have been so refreshing."
For Greg Townsend, the Silver and Black's all-time sack leader, any opportunity to spend time with fellow Raiders Alumni is special. But this weekend, the sheer number of players in attendance made the experience even more meaningful.
"I remember when I first started coming to these Raider Alumni events, there were only 50 guys," he said. "To see how much its grown, to see how many of us came back, it's been really impactful."
Not only was the number of alumni in attendance impressive, so too was the range of eras they represented. Players from 59 straight seasons (1963-2021) across each decade of the club's existence were in attendance.
"It's a wonderful opportunity for us to get together and see faces that we haven't seen, in some cases, in an extremely long time," Pro Football Hall of Famer Marcus Allen said. "It spans generations too. There are people that paved the way for me and I'm sure I've paved the way for some of the young guys as well."
While players greeted old friends and shared stories, there was one common message that Allen and his counterparts emphasized – the Raiders are unique in how they pay homage to former players.
"No organization does it better than the Raiders," said eight-time Pro Bowl guard Steve Wisniewski, whose nephew, Stefen Wisniewski (2011-14), was also in attendance.
"Once a Raider, Always a Raider has been a living ethos that Mr. [Al] Davis started in the 1960s and it continues to this day," Steve Wisniewski added. "There's nothing else like it across the NFL and it really keeps these guys connected and gives them something to look forward to.
"It's like going to a family reunion and seeing guys that you haven't seen for a decade or more, but you walk right up and give them a hug. There's just so much love and respect. We have that shared experience and shared love for the Silver and Black. There's really nothing else like it that I can explain. It's a thrill."
