The global football community is grieving over the loss of a past Super Bowl winner who died earlier this week.
John Vella, a strong presence on the offensive line for the Oakland Raiders from 1972 to 1979 and who concluded his career with the Minnesota Vikings, died earlier this week. He was 74 years old.
The Raiders Family is grieving the loss of John Vella, who was an outstanding player on the formidable Oakland Raiders offensive line during the 1970s and started for the team’s Super Bowl XI championship squad," the organization stated on social media. "At this difficult time, the thoughts and prayers of the whole Raider Nation go out to the Vella family.
Before joining USC, Vella excelled as a high school athlete at Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, California. At USC, he demonstrated exceptional skills both on the football field and the baseball diamond, contributing significantly to the team’s victory in the College World Series in 1970.
Following his All-American recognition on the gridiron in 1971, Vella was later picked by the Raiders as their second-round choice—No. 43 overall—in the 1972 draft. Playing as a key member of the squad, he contributed significantly to securing the championship with a victory in Super Bowl XI against the very franchise where he concluded his playing days.
The multi-talented offensive lineman took on roles as both a guard and a tackle, appearing in 84 contests with 48 starting assignments over an eight-year tenure with the Silver and Black team. He concluded his professional journey with the Minnesota Vikings in 1980.
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