On Saturday, 3rd August 2019 the Raiders announced that their former track star Cliff Branch had passed away. LA Raiders shared in their statement how Branch had made an impact on the lives of generations of Raiders fans, and his death has left a void in all their hearts.
Legendary Raiders WR Cliff Branch has died at the age of 71: //t.co/h0yMGQkAte pic.twitter.com/wrw2FPnT6y
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) August 4, 2019
Raiders’ Mark Davis tweeted on the Raiders’ Twitter account, “Cliff was my best friend. I will miss him dearly.” He was found dead in a hotel room in Bullhead City, Arizona. Bullhead City Police Department informed online that the preliminary investigation revealed no suspected foul play. Cliff Branch passed away from natural causes.
“Cliff Was My Best Friend.. I Will Miss Him Dearly”
-MD-— Oakland Raiders (@Raiders) August 4, 2019
Branch was a four-time Pro Bowler and a three-time All-Pro. In his career, he had 67 touchdowns and 501 catches for 8685 yards. During his fourteen-year National Football League career, he was a wide receiver, for Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders. He had won three NFL championships with the Raiders in Super Bowl XI, XV and XVII. The speed Branch brought to the football games was evident throughout his career, his catching of the 99-yard touchdown pass against Washington at age 35, his longest play — the year the Raiders won their last Super Bowl.
In a time of celebration for fellow players being inducted into the pro football HOF I’m saddened to hear about the passing of cliff branch. Another great player that won’t be here to see himself inducted. Love you Cliff @Raiders
— Charles Woodson (@CharlesWoodson) August 4, 2019
The famous player was nominated for the Pro Football Hall of Fame but has not been inducted. He ranks third in Raiders franchise history in career receiving yards, behind Hall of Famers Tim Brown and Fred Biletnikoff. “There is no way Cliff Branch should not be in the Hall of Fame,” Al Davis told reporters. “Another great player that won’t be able to see himself inducted,” Charles Woodson tweeted. His fun-loving and jovial nature made Branch one of the most popular Raiders among former players. “He always had nothing but a smile on his face every time I saw him and always said I reminded him of himself,” Jacoby Ford tweeted.