The Las Vegas Raiders head into the 2024 season with a new regime led by general manager Tom Telesco and head coach Antonio Pierce.
The Raiders have struggled to win games since moving to Las Vegas, though Telesco and Pierce appear to be heading in the right direction after an offseason spent retooling the roster. Raiders owner Mark Davis has to be pleased with the early returns as the locker room seems bought in on what Pierce and his coaching staff are preaching so far.
Davis would surely like to see his team back in the postseason as he’s been patiently waiting for years to see them compete for a Super Bowl. His father, Al Davis, was well-regarded in league circles for his football acumen and vision, and it’s up to the younger Davis to make good on his father’s wishes for the franchise.
Off the field, the Raiders owner is a private man though recent reports suggested he was expecting a child with dancer and choreographer Hayden Hopkins. However, Hopkins debunked those rumors via her Instagram story as transcribed by Mike Moraitis of Sporting News:
“Reports of Mark Davis being the father of my child are wildly untrue,” Hopkins wrote. “I was pictured sitting next to him at a game in 2022 and have endured false rumors of a romantic relationship since. I was just a guest sitting in the owner’s box with other friends.
“These continued media stories are negatively affecting what should be my happiest days. Joey and I are excited to welcome our baby in the fall xx.”
There were rumors that Davis and Hopkins had a romantic relationship, though it appears that she was simply taking in a game next to him. News outlets ran rampant when the news was initially announced as Davis has never been married and has no other children.
For a Las Vegas team used to seeing off-field distractions take root in the organization, this rumor was shut down quickly, allowing Davis and the rest of the team to move forward and prepare for the upcoming regular season.
Former CEO Amy Trask reveals Al Davis almost sold Raiders
During Al’s time running the franchise, he had a close confidant and partner in former CEO Amy Trask who was responsible for overseeing things like the financial side of the business. During the later years of his life, Trask revealed that he advised her to sell the team though that obviously never happened.
