Raiders Nation was hit with heartbreaking news today. Carol Davis, the beloved matriarch of the Silver and Black, has passed away. Carol was a co-owner of the Las Vegas Raiders and the wife of the late Al Davis. She was the ‘first lady of the Raiders nation.’

The Davis family has been tied to the Raiders since 1963, and Carol’s steady presence through every win and loss made her an icon in her own right. Her passing hits deep in the football world, and the entire NFL community is feeling that loss.

No one’s feeling it more than the players who saw her support firsthand. Star defensive end Maxx Crosby was among the first to react, posting simply, “RIP Mrs. Davis. 🖤🏴‍☠️” on X. The greatest football player of all time and Raiders’ minority owner, Tom Brady, also chimed in, dropping “❤️❤️❤️🙏🙏🙏,” emojis on his Instagram story.

The Las Vegas Raiders announced has passing through an official statement. “Carol provided unbridled support and unparalleled guidance to the Davis family and the Raiders organization for over 60 years.”

“Her direct impact on the Greatness of the Raiders continues to be felt, cherished, and honored, and is woven into the fabric of this historic franchise. If Al was the heart of the Raiders, Carol was the soul.” The Raiders also revealed that a private service will be held for Carol in Oakland, with a larger celebration of her life planned for a later date.

Carol left behind a legacy that goes beyond the Raiders, football, and sport. She had been a fighter throughout her life. In 1979, she suffered both a heart attack and a stroke that left her in a coma for more than three weeks. Al Davis, her husband and then the leader of the Raiders, stepped away from the team during that time to be by her side every day.

And the impact she and the Davis family have left on the Raiders will never be forgotten.

The legacy Carol and her husband left behind

The Davis family’s connection with the Raiders began in 1963, when Al took over as head coach of what was then an AFL team. After three seasons, he briefly became AFL commissioner in 1966, right before the AFL-NFL merger. When he returned to the Raiders later that year, Carol was right there with him. Al bought a partial ownership stake in the team.

Over time, Al and Carol took full control of the franchise, guiding it to legendary success. Together, they saw the Raiders capture three Super Bowl titles: in 1977, 1981, and 1984. After Al’s passing in 2011, their son, Mark Davis, stepped in to lead the team, with Carol maintaining her share of ownership and her steady presence within the organization.

Carol’s dedication went far beyond the boardroom. Throughout her years with the Raiders, she had the honor of presenting nine members of the team for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Her most recent presentation came in 2021, when she introduced former Raiders head coach Tom Flores.

And in 2020, she created one of the most memorable moments in franchise history. During the first game ever played at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Carol became the first person to light the Al Davis Memorial Torch. It was a tribute to her husband’s legacy. And her son believed that she was the only person who could light that torch.

“There’s nobody that could have lit it other than her. Because it’s really a tough time in the country, but also here in Nevada, we don’t want to seem that we’re celebrating or anything of that nature. But to have my mom light that torch means so much, and I think it will mean a lot for everybody in this valley, so I’m excited,” Mark said.

Her loss will be felt deeply throughout the organization and beyond, as the Raiders move forward this season with heavy hearts. Next week’s game against the Jaguars will likely serve as a heartfelt tribute to Carol.