Carol Davis, the Las Vegas Raiders’ longtime co-owner and matriarch of the franchise, died Friday at 93, the team announced Sunday.
“Carol provided unbridled support and unparalleled guidance to the Davis family and the Raiders organization for over 60 years,” the Raiders said in a statement. “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.”
Before kickoff Sunday, Mark Davis honored his mother by lighting the Al Davis Memorial Torch at Allegiant Stadium, a tribute typically reserved for franchise icons. Carol was the first to light the torch ahead of the Raiders’ first game at the stadium on Sept. 21, 2020. A private service will be held in Oakland, with a public celebration of life to follow at a later date.
Carol Davis’ connection to the Silver and Black stretched back to 1963, when Al Davis took over as head coach of the then-AFL Raiders. She stood alongside him through his rapid rise from coach to AFL commissioner, to general manager and ultimately controlling owner, a tenure that delivered an AFL title and three Super Bowl championships (1976, 1980 and 1983 seasons).
After Al’s death in 2011, Carol remained a guiding voice as Mark Davis assumed day-to-day control and the organization transitioned from Oakland to Las Vegas.
Her imprint went beyond the boardroom. In 2021, she presented former coach Tom Flores for his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, continuing a Davis family tradition of shepherding Raiders greats to Canton.
Those close to the organization frequently described Carol as steady and resilient — qualities forged through private health battles and decades of franchise-defining decisions — and as a compassionate counterbalance to Al’s famous edge.
“Mrs. Davis has ascended to the heavens to take a rightful seat on the Throne of Greatness next to her husband Al,” the team’s statement read, “both of whom are wrapped in Cloaks of Immortality.”
