Oakland Raiders Will Remain Under Davis Family Control

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One of the trademarks of Al Davis's role as owner of the Oakland Raiders was being notoriously tight-lipped about the ownership structure of the team. Over the years there has been rampant speculation as to who may have had a controlling interest in the team. When Davis passed away on Saturday morning, there were multiple rumors that his wife, Carol, and son, Mark, would be looking to sell the team.

Vittorio Tafur reports via the San Francisco Chronicle that the Davis family controls the team and has no intent to sell. Raiders CEO Amy Trask confirmed that a succession plan is firmly in place. Mark Davis and head coach Hue Jackson will be in charge of day-to-day football operations for the Raiders going forward, although Mark may hire a general manager in the near future.

Tafur also mentions in his article a 2006 news conference where Davis discussed plans for the team following his death, at which he noted that John Madden may become involved with the team in some capacity.

"If something happened ...  I'm sure (Madden) would be someone that Carol Davis and Mark Davis would call, along with several others who have been Raiders most of their lives and still have a tremendous loyalty to it," Davis said.

Many questions are still up in the air, and it remains to be seen how the team will operate in the months and years going forward, but it should be of comfort to Raiders fans that the team remains in the family that has provided one of the most consistent American sports ownerships of the last fifty years.