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Raiders draft countdown: Ken Stabler is best No. 12 in team history

With 12 days left until the 2026 NFL Draft, the Raiders draft countdown names Ken Stabler as the best No. 12. Snake went 69-26-1 as Raiders starter.

File photo: Oakland Raiders quarterback Ken Stabler scrambles against the Baltimore Colts at Memorial Stadium.
File photo: Sep. 28, 1975, Baltimore, Md., USA, Oakland Raiders quarterback Ken Stabler (12) scrambles against the Baltimore Colts at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Malcolm Emmons-Imagn Images

12 days remain until the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh, Pa., April 23-25, 2026. After a 3-14 season in 2025, the Las Vegas Raiders hold the No. 1 overall pick as this daily countdown continues through the franchise’s best players by jersey number.

Today, April 11, 2026, the number is 12.

Ken Stabler, No. 12

Ken Stabler (Snake) is the pick at No. 12 because he defined the Raiders at quarterback in the 1970s. He delivered swagger, late-game poise and a championship standard that still resonates in Las Vegas.

Stabler played for the Raiders from 1970-79. In that decade, he won a Super Bowl and captured the 1974 NFL MVP.

Why Stabler gets No. 12

Stabler is the best No. 12 because his Raiders record still sets the bar. He went 69-26-1 as the Raiders starting quarterback.

Meanwhile, his Raiders production was elite for the era, including 19,078 passing yards and 150 touchdown passes. That mix of wins and big moments separates him from every other No. 12.

Draft and background

Stabler was born Dec. 25, 1945, in Foley, Ala. He attended Foley High School in Alabama, then played at Alabama.

The Oakland Raiders drafted him in the second round (No. 52 overall) in 1968.

Other notable No. 12s

  • Rich Gannon, 1999-2004

  • Jacoby Ford, 2010-2013

  • Aidan O’Connell, 2024-2025

  • Rusty Hilger, 1985-1987

Career check

Stabler remains the signature quarterback of the Raiders first great era. For No. 12, the 69-26-1 record and Super Bowl ring make it clear.

Next up tomorrow: No. 11.

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Dice City Sports editor Mark Hebert covers the Vegas Golden Knights, Las Vegas Raiders, Athletics, and UNLV baseball and softball. He has 24 years of journalism experience, is also a senior reporter at Exhibit City News, and previously covered the Dallas Stars and Texas Rangers. Follow him on X or connect on LinkedIn.

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