John Vella, a Super Bowl -Master -Offensive Lineman who played for Oakland Raiders and Minnesota Vikings in the NFL, is dead. He was 74.
Raiders announced Vella’s death in a statement on Wednesday.
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“The Raiders family takes care of the adoption of John Vella, a prominence on the dominant Raider -Offensive lines in the 1970s and a starting at Oakland’s Super Bowl Xi Championship team,” the statement reads. “Vella originally joined the Raiders as another round draft in 1972 out of the USC, serving consensus all-American honors as a tackle in 1971.
John Vella, a Super Bowl -Master -Offensive Lineman who played for Oakland Raiders and Minnesota Vikings in the NFL, is dead. (Michael Zagaris/Getty Images)
“A versatile artist and a violent competitor, Vella played both guard and tackle and then action in 84 games with 48 starts for eight seasons with silver and black. He ended his career with Minnesota in 1980.
NFL fans grieved over Vella’s death on X.
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Vellas Raiders defeated New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers in AFC playoffs in 1976, before the team dominated Minnesota Vikings in the Super Bowl XI, 32-14.
He played on the same offensive line as Art Shell and Gene Upshaw. Each was tasked with stopping the passes trying to get on Ken stacks. Wide Recipients Fred Biletnikoff and Cliff Branch were the main goals of these Raiders teams.
Vellas Raiders defeated New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers in AFC playoffs in 1976, before the team dominated Minnesota Vikings in the Super Bowl XI, 32-14. (Robert Hanashiro-Preferred Pictures)
After his play days were over, he returned to the Oakland area to start a business. John Vella’s Raider Sector Room sold Raiders Memorabilia and Gear.
