Mike Davis obit

Former Raiders defensive back Mike Davis dies at age 65

 He was not on the list.

HENDERSON, Nevada -- Mike Davis, the former Raiders defensive back who made one of the most memorable interceptions in team history, has died. He was 65.

The Raiders announced Davis' death Sunday. The team gave no details on the cause of death.

The former Colorado star was a second-round pick by the Raiders in 1977 and will always be remembered for his interception at the end of a playoff win at Cleveland on Jan. 4, 1981.

With the Raiders protecting a 14-12 lead with less than one minute remaining, the Browns had the ball at the Oakland 13 in position for a potential winning field goal.

Kicker Don Cockroft had already missed one extra point and two field goals, and the Browns botched a snap on another extra point on a cold day by Lake Erie.

That led coach Sam Rutigliano to call a pass play called "Red Slot Right, Halfback Stay, 88" on second down to go for a touchdown instead. He instructed quarterback Brian Sipe to throw it away if no one was open.

Sipe threw to Ozzie Newsome in the end zone, but Davis cut in front and intercepted the pass to seal the victory that sent the Raiders to the AFC title game.

The Raiders beat the Chargers in that game and went on to win their second Super Bowl against Philadelphia.

Davis played 107 of his 115 career games with the Raiders, finishing his career with the Chargers in 1987. He had 11 interceptions and 12 fumble recoveries in the regular season.

Davis also had two interceptions in the AFC title game against Seattle in the 1983 season before the Raiders went on to another Super Bowl title.

"Mike was a beloved teammate, friend and cherished part of our family," the team said in the statement. "The thoughts and prayers of the Raider Nation are with Mike's family: Mary, Mike Jr. and Allen. Mike will forever be in our hearts and minds."

Davis is best known for making a key interception at the end of the 1980 AFC Conference playoff game with the Cleveland Browns, in a play known as Red Right 88. Leading 14–12 late in the fourth quarter, after the Raiders recovered a Brian Sipe fumble deep in the Browns' territory, the Raiders turned over the ball on the 15 yard line after failing to gain a yard for a first down. The Browns marched down the field to the Raiders' 13 yard line where the team faced a second and nine. Sipe talked over the next play with head coach Sam Rutigliano who called play "Red Slot Right, Halfback Stay, 88." Rutigliano advised Sipe to throw the ball away if a receiver was not wide open. Rutigliano said:

We'll throw the ball on second down. I'm worried about the field goal. I was worried because of all the events I had witnessed up to that point.

Upon the snap of the bill, Davis read a pass play and slipped initially. Davis recovered his footing and found his coverage assignment, Ozzie Newsome, whom teammate Burgess Owen had been covering. Newsome said that Owens forced him to run deeper into the end zone than intended, allowing Davis to cut in front of him and intercept Brian Sipe's pass.

Davis missed most of the 1981 season when the Vikings' Sammy White roll-blocked him, tearing an ankle ligament and breaking his leg

Career information

High school     Locke (Los Angeles, California)

College            Colorado

NFL draft        1977: 2nd round, 35th overall pick

Career history

Oakland / Los Angeles Raiders (1977–1986)

San Diego Chargers (1987)

Awards and highlights

2× Super Bowl champion (XV, XVIII)

Career NFL statistics

Interceptions    11

Sacks   11

Fumble recoveries       12