The Heisman Trophy comes with high expectations, but history shows the Raiders know what to do with Heisman winners. From Jim Plunkett to Charles Woodson, Heisman winners who joined the silver and black found their identity.
That approach has helped set up some of the most decorated college players for success in the NFL. Some went on to win the Super Bowl, the MVP award, or even have their legacy cemented in Canton, Ohio, at the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Those Hiesman winners have shaped the Raiders franchise, leaving a lasting mark in the history books.
Jim Plunkett (1978-1986)
Jim Plunkett’s story set the tone for one of many comeback stories. After winning the Heisman at Stanford in 1970, entering as the first-overall pick in the NFL Draft to the New England Patriots.
Plunkett’s career began with early struggles with the New England Patriots, which led to his trade to the San Francisco 49ers. Plunkett’s career spiraled downward after his unsuccessful tenure in San Francisco; he was cut from the team in 1978.
His career took a turn for the better once he became the backup quarterback of the Oakland Raiders that same year. After sitting behind Ken Stabler and Marc Wilson for a couple of seasons, he got his shot at redemption. Plunkett seized the opportunity to reshape his career in the 1980 season. With all odds against him, he led the team to an 11-5 finish that eventually led them to victory at Super Bowl XV.
Plunkett’s poise and leadership helped secure the franchise’s second Super Bowl win. Already in his mid-thirties, Plunkett would also lead an incredibly dominant 12-4 Raiders team to the franchise’s third title in 1984 after relocating to Los Angeles.
Plunkett’s body eventually started to break down through injuries and age. 1986 was the final year of his NFL career. Plunkett never won any MVP awards or was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
His impact on the Raiders left a legacy that cemented him as one of the franchise’s greatest players to represent the silver and black. Plunkett is one of the more underrated redemption stories in football today.
Marcus Allen (1982-1992)
In 1982, Marcus Allen arrived in Los Angeles ready to lead the Raiders to a championship. The 1981 USC Heisman winner quickly became the focal point of the Raiders’ offense, delivering immediate results.
He rushed for more than 1,000 yards in four of his first five seasons at running back, paving the way to a Super Bowl XVIII victory. Allen earned MVP honors with his record-setting performance in a dominant 38-9 win over the Washington Redskins.
Allen’s versatility as a receiving back defined an era that made him nearly unstoppable. It was poetry in motion every time that Marcus Allen strided so effortlessly down the field. He was a magician who never quit on carries and was not afraid to take heavy hits.
In 1985, Marcus Allen climbed the mountain to achieve the Offensive Player of the Year and NFL MVP award to add to his illustrious career. Allen’s role would change later in the 1990s, transitioning to a blocking fullback.
Allen contributed so much in a short time to the organization, and he remains the franchise’s all-time rushing leader in yards and rushing touchdowns.
Allen has cemented himself as one of the greatest running backs in the league and is untouchable in the Raiders’ record books. He was rightfully enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Bo Jackson (1987-1991)
Bo Jackson set himself up under the bright stars in Los Angeles as the Raiders’ next star player. Jackson won the Heisman back in 1985 at Auburn University, while being a dual athlete in baseball and track. Jackson was indeed a one-of-a-kind player during his time in sports.
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At 6’2″, 230 lbs, Jackson’s strength and 4.1 40-yard speed combined for elite athleticism that was unlike any human on the planet. During his NFL career, he played for the Kansas City Royals in Major League Baseball. A rare athlete in his own league, averaging over 5.4 yards per carry and forcing defenses to collide head-on to stop this masculine titan.
The Raiders forged a running attack so explosive that Jackson reshaped their entire offense. One of Los Angeles’ brightest stars even had his own slogan, “Bo Knows,” simply because of his dominance in every sport he ever played. For a person who is that chiseled, that strikes heavier than iron would be an action star in Hollywood movies. Bo brought all the action with him on the field.
Bo Jackson’s NFL career was cut short after suffering a hip injury in a 1991 AFC Divisional Round playoff game. He is one of the biggest “What If” stories in football history. Jackson’s trajectory would have been Hall of Fame-bound if his hip injury never occurred.
Tim Brown (1988-2003)
Tim Brown remains one of the most prominent players to don the silver and black. Brown won the Heisman at Notre Dame in 1987, mainly due to his versatility on offense and return skills. Brown translated those skills into his NFL career, which provided long-term consistency, making him the face of the franchise.
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Brown developed into an elite wide receiver despite the Raiders not being a playoff material team until later in his career. He would go on to earn nine Pro Bowl selections, nine consecutive 1,000 receiving yard seasons, and become the all-time franchise leader in receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns.
Brown’s commitment to the Raiders was a key factor in propelling his team and a star-studded cast to Super Bowl XXXVII in 2003. The Raiders were blown out, 21-48, by Jon Gruden’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers after being traded there by Oakland.
Brown never won a Super Bowl during his career, but proved his value by being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, in 2015. He earned the title “Mr. Raider” for everything he gave during his time in Los Angeles and Oakland.
Charles Woodson (1998- 2005, 2013-2016)
Charles Woodson is a fan favorite and an all-time great in the National Football League. The 1997 Michigan Heisman winner entered the league as a generational defender, anchoring the Raiders’ secondary with immediate impact.
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Woodson’s size and strength fueled his versatility, allowing him to thrive in the backfield. His playing style was often aggressive and gritty, regardless of whether he lined up on defense. This made him a natural fit as the Raiders’ fourth-overall selection.
Whether it be a cornerback, safety, or lining up as a blitzer, Woodson had all the skills he needed to command a defense. The coverage that he effectively executed made him a premier ballhawk in the league. He nearly wrapped every opponent he came across down with such force.
It was the attitude and grittiness that made fans fall in love with Woodson’s playing style, the definition of an old-school Raider.
In 2006, Woodson and the Raiders parted ways after Charles hit a career low due to a leg injury, and the organization wanted to move in a different direction. Woodson revived his career in Green Bay, where he added a Super Bowl title and Defensive Player of the Year award with the Packers to his Hall of Fame résumé.
In 2013, Woodson made his highly anticipated return to the Raiders to finish off his career before retiring in 2016. His second stint with the team was impactful for an aging player in their late thirties.
Woodson finished his NFL career in rare company as the only player to stand with 65 interceptions, 13 defensive touchdowns, 20+ sacks, 33 forced fumbles, over 1,200 tackles, and 183 passes defended in 254 games.
Will Fernando Mendoza Be The Next Great?
Indiana Heisman-winning quarterback and National Champion Fernando Mendoza is what many Raiders’ fans hope to be their next franchise player. Mendoza is expected to be the first overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft as Las Vegas holds the first overall selection. The quarterback position has been a problem for the organization in recent years.
The Raiders look to put an end to their decades-long span of losing. Adding Mendoza can also unlock the potential of the team’s offense, headlined by Ashton Jeanty and Brock Bowers.
The Raiders are on the clock this April with the first overall pick to kick off the 2026 NFL Draft, with a chance to expand this star-studded Heisman company.
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