Pete Banaszak, the running back who spent his whole career with the Oakland Raiders and scored twice in their first Super Bowl win, has died at the age of 82. The Raiders announced his death on Saturday, October 24, 2026.
“The Raiders Family mourns the passing of Pete Banaszak, whose toughness, competitive spirit, and dedication embodied a legendary era of Raiders football and made him a cherished member of the Silver and Black,” the team said, sending condolences to his wife Sue, daughters Rebecca and Amy, and grandsons Luke, Austin and Connor.
Thirteen seasons in Silver and Black
Banaszak was born in Crivitz, Wisconsin, on May 21, 1944, and played college football at Miami. The Raiders took him in the fifth round of the 1966 AFL Draft, and he stayed with the club for all 13 of his professional seasons: four in the AFL and nine in the NFL after the 1970 merger. He played 173 regular-season games and 192 including the playoffs.
He ran for 3,772 yards in his career, eighth in franchise history, and 47 touchdowns, second only to Marcus Allen in Raiders history. His 16 rushing touchdowns in 1975 led the NFL and remain the club’s single-season record.
Super Bowl XI and the Holy Roller
Banaszak scored two touchdowns in Super Bowl XI, helping the Raiders beat the Minnesota Vikings 32-14 for the franchise’s first Super Bowl title.
He also had a hand in one of the most famous plays in NFL history. On the last play of a 1978 game against the San Diego Chargers, quarterback Ken Stabler lost the ball, Banaszak pushed it further towards the goal line, and tight end Dave Casper recovered it in the end zone for the winning touchdown. The “Holy Roller” led the league to change its fumble rules.
Banaszak retired after the 1978 season and was inducted into the National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame in 1990.