Rich Gannon

#16 · Las Vegas Raiders

Retired 17 Years In The NFL

🏆 NFL Most Valuable Player (2002)

Rich's

HAIR

35.2

HeyTC AI Rating

Questions about Rich Gannon or the Raiders?

Rich Gannon Legacy

HEYTC AI

Rich Gannon was the ultimate late-bloomer gunslinger, a Philadelphia kid from Delaware who bounced from Vikings backup to Chiefs journeyman before Jon Gruden unlocked his wizardry in Oakland. What made him special? That rocket arm paired with a surgeon's smarts—quick release, low turnovers, and a cannon that shredded defenses for four straight Pro Bowls. His signature? The 2002 MVP blaze to Super Bowl XXXVII, even if Gruden's Bucs playbook betrayal turned it into a five-pick nightmare. HeyTC slots him No. 42 all-time, a Raider legend who now dissects the game sharper than most play it.

Rich Gannon Rating Breakdown

Season

Average

Fantasy

Average

Playoffs

Good

Overall

Chill

6 years with the Raiders

Rich Gannon Career Stats via Wikipedia

28,743 Pass Yards

180 Touchdowns

104 INTs

60.2% Comp %

35.2 HAIR

76-56 Record

Frequently Asked Questions About Rich Gannon

Is Rich Gannon in the Pro Football Hall of Fame?

Rich Gannon's not in Canton, and at this point, it's a long shot—he's got the stats and that MVP season, but the Hall's gatekeepers seem to have overlooked his late-career explosion with the Raiders. Think about it: 28,743 yards, 180 TDs, a Super Bowl run, yet no bust waiting. Raiders fans still toast him as their pocket wizard from the Chucky era.

What is Rich Gannon doing now in 2026?

In 2026, Gannon's firing off unfiltered takes on Raiders radio hits, like blasting their Pete Carroll firing and demanding a coach with real chops for the next franchise QB—think experience, leadership, the works. Still got that gunslinger edge, pushing Silver and Black to stop chasing headlines and build a contender. Classic Gannon: no BS, all Raiders heart.

How would Rich Gannon perform in today's NFL?

Gannon would eat today's NFL alive—those pass-happy rules, no more mugging QBs, would've juiced his 35.2 career rating into MVP territory yearly. Quick release, smart eyes, Raider grit; he'd carve up zones like he did corners in '01. Modern D's couldn't touch his late bloom, turning 36 into a cannon. League's softer, he'd be top-10 easy.

How does Rich Gannon compare to Jim Plunkett?

Gannon edges Plunkett in Raider lore with flashier numbers—28k yards to Jim's grind-it-out style—but Plunkett's two Super Bowl rings bury Gannon's one trip. Ratings tell it: Gannon's 35.2 vs. Plunkett's 55.6, yet Rich owned the air while Jim slung it for rings in the Hog Days. Both franchise saviors, but Plunkett's hardware wins the stare-down.