The 2002 season was the Oakland Raiders' 33rd in the National Football League (NFL), their 43rd overall, their eighth since returning to Oakland and their first under head coach Bill Callahan. The Raiders played their home games at Network Associates Coliseum as members of the AFC West. The Raiders had essentially traded their head coach Jon Gruden following the 2001 season. The Raiders hired Callahan, the offensive coordinator under Gruden, to serve as their new head coach.
Despite their talent, the Raiders struggled in the first half of the season. A 4–0 start was followed by four consecutive losses; the team's 4–4 record stunned many onlookers. The team, however, redeemed itself by winning seven of its final eight contests. In the third quarter of Oakland's 26–20 win on Monday Night Football over the Jets, Tim Brown became the third player in NFL history with 1,000 career catches. Finishing 11–5 in a conference where twelve teams obtained .500 or better records and nine were above .500, the Raiders won the AFC West for the third consecutive season, a first-round bye, and home-field advantage throughout the AFC's playoffs as the top seed. They routed the New York Jets and Tennessee Titans in the playoffs, by a combined score of 71–34 and +4 in the turnover differential; in doing so, they advanced to their first Super Bowl since 1984. Their opponent was the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, led by their former coach Jon Gruden.
The Raiders entered Super Bowl XXXVII as slight favorites; many predicted a hard-fought showdown between Oakland's top-ranked offense and Tampa Bay's top-ranked defense. The resulting game, however, ended in disaster for the Raiders. An early three-point lead (courtesy of a Sebastian Janikowski field goal) evaporated as the Buccaneers scored 34 unanswered points. The Buccaneers' defense, aided by Gruden's knowledge of the Raider offense and Raiders' failure to change many of the terms for their offense, intercepted Rich Gannon three times during this scoring surge. Many times, Buccaneer safety John Lynch was able to determine what play was coming based on audibles called by Raider quarterback Rich Gannon. A furious Raider rally cut the score to an almost-competitive 34–21 in the fourth quarter. However, two more Gannon interceptions sealed the Raiders' fate in a 48–21 bludgeoning.
The years following the Super Bowl loss marked a period of decline and futility for the Raiders, earning neither a winning record nor a playoff trip until 2016. As of 2025, this represents the most recent AFC West title and postseason win for the Raiders.
The last remaining active member of the 2002 Oakland Raiders was kicker Sebastian Janikowski, who played his final NFL game in the 2018 season, although he missed the 2017 season.
Offseason Additions Subtractions DT Sam Adams (Ravens) CB Eric Allen (retirement) QB Rick Mirer (49ers) LB Greg Biekert (Vikings) DT John Parrella (Chargers) QB Rodney Peete (Panthers) LB Bill Romanowski (Broncos) G Steve Wisniewski (retirement) FS Rod Woodson (Ravens)
NFL draft
Undrafted free agents
+ 2002 undrafted free agents of notePlayerPositionCollegeMavin BennettRunning backBaylorWillie FordCornerbackSyracuseDerrick PickensDefensive tackleIowaTeag WhitingTackleBYURoyd Williams Wide receiverUAB
Background The 2002 season, due mainly to the aforementioned Super Bowl run, ranks among the most important in franchise history. The aging Raiders' controversial elimination from the prior year's playoffs set the stage for a concerted championship push. Owner Al Davis traded then-head coach Jon Gruden to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers shortly after the Raiders' 2001 playoff loss; in doing so, he received two first-round picks, two second-round picks, and cash considerations from Tampa Bay. Davis, despite team salary cap troubles, also managed to acquire veteran stars Sam Adams, Rod Woodson, and Bill Romanowski during the 2002 offseason.
The Raiders entered the season with a hugely talented, albeit aging roster of players. The offense was led by quarterback Rich Gannon, who would be named MVP for the season. The team's receiving corps of Tim Brown, Jerry Rice, and Jerry Porter ranked among the league's best; additionally, running back Charlie Garner posted 1,903 all-purpose yards. The offensive line, moreover, was anchored by pro-bowlers Lincoln Kennedy and Barret Robbins. The Raiders' offense, all told, led the league in total yardage; Gannon additionally led all NFL quarterbacks in passing with 4,689 yards. The defense, while less vaunted, nonetheless ranked among the NFL's finest; the contributions of Rod Woodson, Bill Romanowski, Charles Woodson, and Trace Armstrong aided the Raiders' cause greatly.
Staff
Roster
Rookies in italics
Regular season Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Recap 1 September 8 Seattle Seahawks W 31–17 1–0 Network Associates Coliseum 53,260 Recap 2 September 15 at Pittsburgh Steelers W 30–17 2–0 Heinz Field 62,260 Recap 3Bye 4 September 29 Tennessee Titans W 52–25 3–0 Network Associates Coliseum 58,719 Recap 5 October 6 at Buffalo Bills W 49–31 4–0 Ralph Wilson Stadium 73,038 Recap 6 October 13 at St. Louis Rams L 13–28 4–1 Edward Jones Dome 66,070 Recap 7 October 20 San Diego Chargers L 21–27 4–2 Network Associates Coliseum 60,974 Recap 8 October 27 at Kansas City Chiefs L 10–20 4–3 Arrowhead Stadium 78,685 Recap 9 November 3 San Francisco 49ers L 20–23 4–4 Network Associates Coliseum 62,660 Recap 10 at Denver Broncos W 34–10 5–4 Invesco Field at Mile High 76,643 Recap 11 November 17 New England Patriots W 27–20 6–4 Network Associates Coliseum 62,552 Recap 12 November 24 at Arizona Cardinals W 41–20 7–4 Sun Devil Stadium 58,814 Recap 13 New York Jets W 26–20 8–4 Network Associates Coliseum 62,257 Recap 14 December 8 at San Diego Chargers W 27–7 9–4 Qualcomm Stadium 67,968 Recap 15 December 15 at Miami Dolphins L 17–23 9–5 Pro Player Stadium 73,572 Recap 16 December 22 Denver Broncos W 28–16 10–5 Network Associates Coliseum 62,592 Recap 17 Kansas City Chiefs W 24–0 11–5 Network Associates Coliseum 62,078 Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries Week 1: vs. Seattle Seahawks
Week 5: at Buffalo Bills
Week 7: vs. San Diego Chargers
Week 8: at Kansas City Chiefs
Week 11: vs. New England Patriots
Week 12: at Arizona Cardinals
Week 13: vs. New York Jets
Week 14: at San Diego Chargers
Week 15: at Miami Dolphins
Week 17: vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Standings Division
Conference
Postseason
Schedule Round Date Opponent (seed) Result Record Venue Attendance Recap Wild CardFirst-round bye Divisional January 12 New York Jets (4) W 30–10 1–0 Network Associates Coliseum 62,207 Recap AFC Championship January 19 Tennessee Titans (2) W 41–24 2–0 Network Associates Coliseum 62,544 Recap Super Bowl XXXVII January 26 vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (N2) L 21–48 2–1 Qualcomm Stadium 67,603 Recap
Game summaries AFC Divisional Playoffs: vs. (4) New York Jets
AFC Championship: vs. (2) Tennessee Titans
The Raiders defeated the Titans and advanced to their first Super Bowl since Super Bowl XVIII, when they were based in Los Angeles. As of 2025, this was the last time Raiders won a playoff game as they would not return to the playoffs again until 2016 and would be the last playoff game to be held at the Oakland Coliseum. The Raiders were approved to relocate to Las Vegas and played their inaugural Las Vegas season in 2020.
Heavy Metal band Metallica performed an unannounced pregame concert prior to kickoff and the game's national Anthem was performed by Joe Satriani.
Until the 2019–20 NFL playoffs, this was the last AFC championship game which did not include the Baltimore Ravens, Denver Broncos, Indianapolis Colts, New England Patriots or Pittsburgh Steelers.
Super Bowl XXXVII: vs. (N2) Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Awards and honors Rich Gannon, Bert Bell Award Rich Gannon, NFL MVP
References
External links Raiders on Pro Football Reference