Charles Woodson Reflects On How Special Playing For Raiders In Oakland Was
Charles Woodson, Raiders
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Sunday marks the end of an era as the Oakland Raiders are hosting the Jacksonville Jaguars in their final game at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum.

The Raiders have called Oakland home since they moved there from Los Angeles in 1994, and there has been no shortage of memorable moments at the Black Hole.

One player who provided perhaps more memorable moments than anyone else is Charles Woodson, who played for the Raiders from 1998-2005 and then again for his final three seasons from 2013-15.

As Woodson gets set to take in the final game at the Coliseum before the team moves to Las Vegas, he feels for the fans that showed up to support their team every week for the last 25 years, via Matt Kawahara of the San Francisco Chronicle:

“They’ve got a new stadium in Vegas, they’re going to Vegas, they’re not coming back to Oakland,” Woodson said, speaking with reporters. “I think that, for a lot of Raider fans who were hoping and praying and wishing that the Oakland Raiders would stay here, they know that’s not going to happen now.

“So, I think a lot of people are going to have their hearts ripped out for a second time. This time, they aren’t coming back.”

The Black Hole is known for being one of the best fan bases in the league, and that is not lost on Woodson:

“I think every fan base, they’re unique to their team,” Woodson said. “But Oakland, man, it seems like it drives a little deeper. When you’re around Oakland fans, you’re in the stadium, or you’re out at Walmart or wherever, it just seems like it drives a little deeper.”

Finally, Woodson reflected on what he is going to miss most about the Raiders playing in Oakland:

“When I was first here, we used to run to the Black Hole and then run in from there,” Woodson said. “Standing in front of the Black Hole, to have the fans beating the side of the stadium, the amount of anticipation and energy that would give you before you ran out and played was second to none. That’s going to be something that’s going to be missed.”

Hopefully, the Raiders can finish out their tenure in Oakland with a win so Jon Gruden can celebrate with the Black Hole one final time.

The Raiders may not have won a championship during their time in Oakland, but there are still a ton of great memories that will last a lifetime, making Sunday a pretty emotional day for everyone.