How Al Davis Costed Marcus Allen a Chance to be The NFL All-Time Leading Rusher

Marcus Allen, a standout player from USC, joined the Los Angeles Raiders in 1982. His college career was marked by winning the prestigious Heisman Trophy, and he continued his success in the NFL by clinching the Super Bowl MVP title in Super Bowl XVIII, where the Raiders triumphed over the then-Washington Redskins, 38-9. These accolades solidified his position as one of the greatest running backs in NFL history.

Yet, despite his remarkable talent and 16-year career, Allen never came close to becoming the NFL’s all-time leading rusher. Much of that can be attributed to his fractured relationship with Al Davis, the legendary but polarizing Raiders owner.

In his first season, Allen won Offensive Rookie of the Year honors. Two years later, he delivered one of the most incredible performances in Super Bowl history, rushing for 191 yards and two touchdowns in the Raiders’ victory over Washington in Super Bowl XVIII. That season, Allen also became the NFL’s rushing champion with 1,759 yards and 11 touchdowns.

In Allen’s first season, 7 seasons with the Raiders, he rushed for 6,982 yards, and then the next four years, Allen and Davis had a falling out.

Davis and Allen

The specifics of what transpired between Allen and Davis remain a mystery. Still, it’s evident that Davis significantly reduced Allen’s playing time between 1988 and 1992, a period that could have been crucial for Allen’s career.

Some suggest Davis resented Allen’s popularity and felt overshadowed by the star running back. Others believe Davis was upset about Allen’s decision to hold out during contract negotiations, or that Davis perceived Allen as too focused on his own success.

Whatever the reasons, Davis made it clear he no longer viewed Allen as a cornerstone of the franchise. By the late 1980s, Allen had gone from being the team’s primary offensive weapon to a backup, often losing carries to lesser-known players.

Wasted Years

Allen won the NFL MVP Award in 1985, rushing for 1,1759 yards on 380 carries. After that season, his carries started to dip. In 1987, Bo Jackson played for the Raiders, and he and Allen split carries. In 1989, Allen missed most of the season due to a knee injury.

During a game in 1989, the Raiders’ running back coach, Terry Robiskie, took a bold step. He secretly inserted Allen into the game to secure a crucial first down and a touchdown, ultimately leading to the Raiders’ victory.  Davis entered the locker room and asked Robiskie why Allen was in the game. Robiskie told Davis he wanted to win the game, so he put Allen in. Davis was 

all about winning.

From 1986 to 1992, Allen surpassed 800 rushing yards in a season one time—a stark contrast to his early years, when he rushed for over 1,000 yards three straight seasons. After Jackson retired following the 1990 season, Allen still had to sit behind running backs past their primes, such as Roger Craig and Eric Dickerson. In that period, Allen rushed for 3,907 yards.

During those wasted seasons, Allen lost thousands of rushing yards he could have added to his career total. By the time he left the Raiders in 1993, Allen had 8,545 career rushing yards, but it could have been more.

On to KC

In 1993, Allen signed with the Raiders’ hated rival, the Kansas City Chiefs. By then, Allen was past his prime but still had solid numbers. In his first season in Kansas City, Allen rushed for 764 yards and scored 15 touchdowns. He played five seasons for the Chiefs and ran for 3,698 yards and 44 touchdowns.

Allen rushed for 12,243 yards and 123 touchdowns in his career. It could have been much more if not for the wasted years. If Davis had not benched Allen, he might have challenged Walter Payton’s then-record of 16,726 rushing yards. Considering Allen’s durability, versatility, and knack for finding the end zone, it’s unreasonable to think he could have surpassed Payton’s record at the time. Emmitt Smith eventually set the record with 18,355 yards.

Allen still managed to have a Hall of Fame career. He was a running back who could run, catch, and block. Allen caught 587 for 5,411 yards and 21 touchdowns.

Davis had a great football mind, and if he left, you crossed him; there was no coming back; that’s what happened with Allen. Ultimately, the feud between Davis and Allen is a cautionary tale about how personal conflicts derail even the most promising careers.