Posted by Curtis Crabtree on March
26, 2019, 2:22 AM EDT
Clem
Daniels, a star running back for the
Oakland Raiders in the team’s AFL days,
has died at the age of 83.
“The Raider Family mourns
the loss of Clem Daniels, an integral
part of the Raider organization for six
decades,” the team said in a statement.
“Clem was the premier all-purpose
running back in the American Football
League, setting the league’s all-time
rushing record, and was one of the
original stars of the Silver and Black.
“Throughout his adult
life, Clem was a pillar of the East Bay
community, not only as a successful
business leader but also a
highly-visible advocate for social
justice. The condolences and prayers of
the entire Raider Nation are with
Cynthia Foreman and the rest of Clem’s
family at this time.”
Daniels played eight
seasons in the AFL with seven coming as
a member of the Raiders. He appeared in
110 career games and rushed for 5,138
yards and 30 touchdowns, including a
league-leading 1,099 yards in 1963 when
he was named AFL MVP. Additionally,
Daniels was just as adept as a receiver
out of the backfield. He caught 203
passes for 3,314 yards and 24 touchdowns
for his career. In his MVP season, he
averaged 22.8 yards per reception,
catching 30 passes for 685 yards and
five touchdowns.
He was a part of the AFL
champion Raiders team that faced the
Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl II.
He was a four-time AFL All-Star
selection and was twice named a
first-team All-Pro. Daniels still ranks
third all-time in team history in
rushing and 12th in receiving yards.
After appearing in 14
games with the Dallas Texans as a
rookie, Daniels latched on with the
Raiders in 1961. He spent the next seven
years with the Raiders.
