Shannon Sharpe Reveals Details That Fueled Broncos'-Raiders' Intense Rivalry
Shannon Sharpe Reveals Details That Fueled Broncos'-Raiders' Intense Rivalry originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Inter-division matchups always create the tensest of rivalries in sports. Through the competitive nature of the game and the high volume of games against each other, the tensions grow and create great matchups for fan bases to experience.
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The Denver Broncos and Las Vegas Raiders stand as one of the historic rivalries in the NFL, dating back to the 1960s.
Raiders' legendary owner Al Davis was at the center of the rivalry, as the Raiders dominated their division for nearly two decades, winning three Super Bowls over that span.
Former Broncos and Hall of Fame receiver Shannon Sharpe revealed this weekend on an episode of "Nightcap" details of how the relationship between Davis and Mike Shanahan added fuel to the fire of the Broncos-Raiders rivalry.
"We hated the Raiders. Mike Shanahan became our head coach," Sharpe said (h/t ProFootballNetwork). "Mike was the coach for the Raiders for like 20 games, and then Al Davis fired him and then wouldn't pay him his money."
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Shanahan coached for Denver in various roles between 1984 and 1991, including wide receiver coach, quarterback coach, and offensive coordinator. However, for a stretch, Shanahan left for Oakland to be the head coach between 1988 and 1989.
After Davis fired Shanahan, he returned to coaching in Denver. Upon his return to the Broncos, Sharpe revealed that Davis essentially dared Shanahan to take legal action, which would cost more money than Shanahan was owed by Davis.
After a stint with the San Francisco 49ers, Shanahan returned to Denver as the head coach and shared this story with his team to ignite a different level of determination to beat the Raiders.
Denver Broncos tight end #84 Shannon Sharpe catches a pass over the middle during Super Bowl XXXIII against the Atlanta Falcons at Pro Player Stadium. The Broncos defeated the Falcons 34-19 earning their second consecutive Super Bowl title. Photo By Imagn Images © Copyright Imagn Images
The game of football in that time period was one of hard hits and defined by toughness. The Broncos knew what to expect each time they faced their division rivals.
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'Raiders are one team you ain't really got to study no film because they're gonna be right there in front of you. They are going to play man coverage every snap. They're going to cheap shot at you," Sharpe said. 'But I'm going to get my lick on somebody. Either I'm going to get you or I'm going to get your teammate, but somebody's going to get the same thing.'
The rivalry between the two teams only grew tenser during Shanahan's tenure, one that included two Super Bowl championships for the Broncos.
Sharpe said the original dispute between Davis and Shanahan centered on $250,000 in back pay that Davis refused to pay Shanahan after firing him in the 1989 season.
In 1990, the NFL ruled in Shanahan's favor, ordering Davis to pay the head coach his money owed. However, Davis appealed the decision and never ended up paying, claiming that Shanahan received a loan from the Raiders when he was hired that offset the money owed.
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The dispute between the two became a public spectacle, with accusations from each side and animosity growing. Although the rivalry may not seem like one of the most intense at the moment, it has a deep history.
The Raiders lead the all-time series between the two teams 73-56-2, and have won eight of the last 10 matchups. However, the Broncos swept the season series in 2024.
The two teams will meet in Denver in Week 10 and in Las Vegas in Week 14 in the upcoming 2025 season.
Related: Broncos' Zach Grossi Opens up on His Fight With Cancer
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 23, 2025, where it first appeared.
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