Carol Davis, the widow of longtime Raiders owner Al Davis and mother of current owner Mark Davis, has died at the age of 93. The Raiders announced her passing on Friday, honoring her legacy as “The First Lady of Raider Nation.” In tribute, Mark Davis lit the Al Davis Memorial Torch at Allegiant Stadium on Sunday.
Carol Sagal married Al Davis in 1954 and became an integral part of the Raiders organization when Al was hired as coach in 1963. He eventually took ownership of the team, leading the Raiders to three Super Bowl titles following the 1976, 1980, and 1983 seasons.
“Carol provided unbridled support and unparalleled guidance to the Davis family and the Raiders organization for over 60 years,” the team said in a statement. “Her direct impact on the Greatness of the Raiders continues to be felt, cherished, and honored, and is woven into the fabric of this historic franchise. If Al was the heart of the Raiders, Carol was the soul.”
Mark Davis, the couple’s only child, was born in 1955. He assumed control of the franchise after Al Davis passed away in 2011, while Carol retained a share of ownership. Though Carol Davis mostly played a behind-the-scenes role, she was present at significant moments for the team. Notably, she took part in the groundbreaking ceremony of Allegiant Stadium in 2017 and lit the Al Davis torch before the Raiders’ first game in Las Vegas in 2020, which was played without fans due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“There’s nobody that could have lit it other than her,” Mark Davis told ESPN at the time. “Because it’s really a tough time in the country, but also here in Nevada, we don’t want to seem that we’re celebrating or anything of that nature. But to have my mom light that torch means so much, and I think it will mean a lot for everybody in this valley, so I’m excited.”
Carol Davis also played a role in honoring Raiders history, presenting former Raiders coach Tom Flores during his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2021.
Her resilience was evident following a heart attack and stroke in 1979 that left her in a coma for more than three weeks. During that difficult period, Al Davis stepped aside from the team to be by her side in the hospital. Fortunately, Carol eventually made a full recovery.
Carol Davis’s legacy lives on in the Raiders organization and the broader Raider Nation, where she was truly considered its soul.
http://lasvegassun.com//news/2025/oct/26/carol-davis-widow-of-al-davis-and-first-lady-of-ra/
