The 2003 Oakland Raiders season was the 44th season of professional football for the Oakland Raiders franchise, their 34th season as members of the National Football League (NFL), and their ninth season since returning to Oakland. They were led by head coach Bill Callahan in his second and final year as head coach of the Raiders. The Raiders played their home games at Network Associates Coliseum as members of the AFC West. They finished the season 4–12 to finish in a tie with the Chargers for last place, but the Raiders finished in 3rd place because they had a better conference record than the Chargers did. It marked the first time since 1999 that the Raiders failed to make the playoffs and finished with a losing record for the first time since 1997.
Quarterback Rich Gannon, who had been the league MVP the previous season, injured his shoulder in seventh game of the season and was put on injured reserve for the remainder of the season. He was replaced by Marques Tuiasosopo and Rick Mirer. The Raiders had a five-game losing streak in the middle of the season and lost seven games by a touchdown or less. Their 4–12 record tied them with the San Diego Chargers, New York Giants, and Arizona Cardinals as the worst team in football in 2003 and they received the second pick in the 2004 NFL draft.
The season was the last year in Oakland for wide receivers Tim Brown and Jerry Rice. Both future Hall of Fame members were held to four total touchdowns for the season.
Following the season, Raiders owner Al Davis fired head coach Bill Callahan and replaced him with Norv Turner.
The 2003 season marked a turning point in Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders history, as it started a long period of futility and decline for the team. From 2003 to present, the Raiders only made the playoffs twice in 2016 and 2021 with only 5 seasons with a .500 or better record in the same timespan.
In Week 13, after a 22-8 loss to the Denver Broncos, head coach Bill Callahan stated "We've got to be the dumbest team in America in terms of playing the game. I'm highly critical because of the way we give games away. We give 'em away! Period. It's embarrassing, and I represent that. And I apologize for that, but that’s the best we can do, and that’s a sad product.”
Previous season The Raiders finished the 2002 season 11–5 to win the AFC West. As the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs, they defeated the Jets and Titans to advance to their first Super Bowl since 1984, where they were defeated by the Buccaneers who were led by former Raider head coach Jon Gruden.
Offseason The Raiders lost defensive tackle Sam Adams, cornerback Tory James, defensive end Regan Upshaw and fullback Jon Ritchie in free agency.
NFL draft
Football Database. Retrieved 2014-Mar-24.
Staff 2003 Oakland Raiders staffHead coaches Head coach – Bill Callahan Offensive coaches Offensive coordinator – Marc Trestman Running backs – Skip Peete Wide receivers – Fred Biletnikoff Tight ends – Jay Norvell Offensive line – Aaron Kromer Senior assistant – John Morton Offensive assistant – Jim Harbaugh Offensive assistant – Chris Turner Defensive coaches Defensive coordinator – Chuck Bresnahan Defensive line – Mike Waufle Linebackers – Fred Pagac Defensive backs – Ron Lynn Quality control/defense – Chris Griswold Quality control/defense – Don Martin Squad development – Willie Brown
Special teams coaches Special teams coordinator – Bob Casullo
Strength and conditioning Strength and conditioning – Tim Adams
Roster 2003 Oakland Raiders roster Quarterbacks Rob Johnson Tee Martin Rick Mirer
Running backs Zack Crockett FB Charlie Garner Chris Hetherington FB J. R. Redmond Tyrone Wheatley
Wide receivers Tim Brown Ronald Curry Doug Gabriel KR Jerry Porter Jerry Rice John Stone Alvis Whitted
Tight ends Teyo Johnson Doug Jolley O. J. Santiago Offensive linemen Brad Badger G Corey Hulsey G Lincoln Kennedy T Barret Robbins C Blaine Saipaia C/G Barry Sims T Chad Slaughter G/T Adam Treu C Langston Walker G/T Joe Wong G/T
Defensive linemen Tyler Brayton DE Lorenzo Bromell DE Rod Coleman DT Chris Cooper DT Akbar Gbaja-Biamila DE Sean Gilbert DT DeLawrence Grant DE Grant Irons DE Terdell Sands DT Dana Stubblefield DT Linebackers Eric Barton OLB Napoleon Harris OLB Tim Johnson MLB Shurron Pierson OLB
Defensive backs Nnamdi Asomugha CB/FS Phillip Buchanon CB/PR Anthony Dorsett FS/SS Derrick Gibson SS Eric Johnson SS Clarence Love CB Carey Scott CB/S Terrance Shaw CB Charles Woodson CB
Special teams Sebastian Janikowski Shane Lechler Injured Reserve Trace Armstrong DE (IR) Mo Collins G (IR) Justin Fargas RB/KR (IR) Rich Gannon QB (IR) Frank Middleton G (IR) Scottie Montgomery WR (IR) Keyon Nash S (IR) John Parrella DT (IR) Bill Romanowski LB (IR) Travian Smith LB (IR) Matt Stinchcomb T (IR) Marques Tuiasosopo QB (IR) Sam Williams LB (IR) Rod Woodson FS (IR)
Practice squad James Adkisson TE Keith Burnell RB Donny Green LB David Newman TE Jared Peck T rookies in italics
53 active, 14 inactive, 5 practice squad
Regular season Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance 1 September 7 at Tennessee Titans L 20–25 0–1 The Coliseum 68,809 2 September 14 Cincinnati Bengals W 23–20 1–1 Network Associates Coliseum 50,135 3 at Denver Broncos L 10–31 1–2 Invesco Field at Mile High 76,753 4 September 28 San Diego Chargers W 34–31 2–2 Network Associates Coliseum 54,078 5 October 5 at Chicago Bears L 21–24 2–3 Soldier Field 61,099 6 October 12 at Cleveland Browns L 7–13 2–4 Cleveland Browns Stadium 73,318 7 Kansas City Chiefs L 10–17 2–5 Network Associates Coliseum 62,391 8 Bye 9 November 2 at Detroit Lions L 13–23 2–6 Ford Field 61,561 10 November 9 New York Jets L 24–27 2–7 Network Associates Coliseum 51,909 11 November 16 Minnesota Vikings W 28–18 3–7 Network Associates Coliseum 56,653 12 November 23 at Kansas City Chiefs L 24–27 3–8 Arrowhead Stadium 78,889 13 November 30 Denver Broncos L 8–22 3–9 Network Associates Coliseum 57,201 14 December 7 at Pittsburgh Steelers L 7–27 3–10 Heinz Field 53,079 15 December 14 Baltimore Ravens W 20–12 4–10 Network Associates Coliseum 45,398 16 Green Bay Packers L 7–41 4–11 Network Associates Coliseum 62,298 17 December 28 at San Diego Chargers L 14–21 4–12 Qualcomm Stadium 62,222
Standings
Game summaries Week 1: at Tennessee Titans
Week 2: vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Week 3: at Denver Broncos
Week 4: vs. San Diego Chargers
The Chargers jumped out to a 31–17 lead with just under 6 minutes left in regulation, but the Raiders scored 17 unanswered points to tie the game with 1:24 left in the 4th quarter. San Diego started the following drive at its own 20-yard line and made it to the Oakland 32-yard line, but ran out of time before being able to score, and the game went into overtime. The Chargers received the opening kickoff in overtime, but only gained 12 yards before punting. The two teams would trade punts before Oakland kicker Sebastian Janikowski made a 46-yard field goal to win the game for the Raiders.
Week 5: at Chicago Bears
Week 6: at Cleveland Browns
Week 7: vs. Kansas City
Week 9: at Detroit Lions
Week 10: vs. New York Jets
Week 11: vs. Minnesota Vikings
Week 12: at Kansas City Chiefs
Week 13: vs. Denver Broncos
Week 14: at Pittsburgh Steelers
Week 15: vs. Baltimore Ravens
Week 16: vs. Green Bay Packers
The day before the game, Irvin Favre, father of Packers' quarterback Brett Favre, died suddenly of a heart attack. Favre elected to play and passed for four touchdowns in the first half, and 399 yards in a 41–7 defeat of the Raiders. Afterwards, Favre said, "I knew that my dad would have wanted me to play. I love him so much and I love this game. It's meant a great deal to me, to my dad, to my family, and I didn't expect this kind of performance. But I know he was watching tonight."
Week 17: at San Diego Chargers
See also List of NFL teams affected by internal conflict
References