University Southern California Trojans
John Vella, USC All-American and Raiders Super Bowl Champion, Dies
April 08, 2025 | Football
LOS ANGELES – John Vella, a USC All-American and member of the Raiders' Super Bowl XI championship team, died last Wednesday (April 2). He was 74. No cause of death was given.
Vella, a three-year letterman at offensive tackle (1969-71), was a part of the 1970 Rose Bowl team that defeated Michigan 10-3.
USC went 22-8-2 in his career. He helped the Trojans win the conference title in 1969, as well as finish third in the final AP Poll that year.
Vella was a team captain and an All-Conference selection in 1971. He also won the 1971 John Dye Memorial Award presented to the lineman of the year by vote of the coaching staff.
Vella was selected by the Oakland Raiders in the second round with the 43rd overall pick of the 1972 NFL Draft. He played in 92 career games (48 starts), with all but 8 of those games coming with the Raiders (1972-79). He finished out his career with the Minnesota Vikings in 1980.
Vella started 14 games at right tackle during the 1976 season, culminating with 3 starts in the postseason as the Raiders defeated the Vikings 32-14 in Super Bowl XI.
Vella, a three-year letterman at offensive tackle (1969-71), was a part of the 1970 Rose Bowl team that defeated Michigan 10-3.
USC went 22-8-2 in his career. He helped the Trojans win the conference title in 1969, as well as finish third in the final AP Poll that year.
Vella was a team captain and an All-Conference selection in 1971. He also won the 1971 John Dye Memorial Award presented to the lineman of the year by vote of the coaching staff.
Vella was selected by the Oakland Raiders in the second round with the 43rd overall pick of the 1972 NFL Draft. He played in 92 career games (48 starts), with all but 8 of those games coming with the Raiders (1972-79). He finished out his career with the Minnesota Vikings in 1980.
Vella started 14 games at right tackle during the 1976 season, culminating with 3 starts in the postseason as the Raiders defeated the Vikings 32-14 in Super Bowl XI.
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