Pete Banaszak, the hard-nosed running back who helped the Oakland Raiders win their first Super Bowl and carved out a lasting place in franchise history, died at 82, the team announced Saturday, Oct. 24.
Banaszak spent all 13 seasons of his NFL career with Oakland, becoming a symbol of the toughness and determination that defined the Raiders during one of the most successful eras in their history.
Selected in the fifth round of the 1966 AFL draft, Banaszak played in 173 regular-season games, often making his greatest impact in the moments when the team needed him most.
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Banaszak’s defining performance came in Super Bowl XI on January 9, 1977, when he scored two rushing touchdowns in Oakland’s 32-14 victory over the Minnesota Vikings. The win delivered the franchise its first Super Bowl championship after years of postseason disappointment and established Banaszak as a key contributor to one of the Raiders’ landmark victories.
Born in Wisconsin, Banaszak attended the Born in Wisconsin, Banaszak attended the University of Miami, where he played for the Hurricanes and distinguished himself as a senior, earning team most valuable player honors. Oakland drafted him in 1966, beginning a professional career that would remain synonymous with the Raiders.
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In 1978, Banaszak became part of football lore when his attempt to advance a loose ball helped complete the infamous “Holy Roller” play against the San Diego Chargers. The controversial game-winning touchdown prompted the league to change its rules governing offensive fumbles.
Banaszak retired after the 1978 season with 3,772 rushing yards and 52 total touchdowns. He was inducted into the University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame in 1983 and the National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame in 1990.
Banaszak is survived by his wife, Sue; daughters Rebecca and Amy; and grandsons Luke, Austin and Connor
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