Breadcrumb

Wayne Hawkins, 84, excelled for Pacific and Oakland Raiders

Photo of Wayne Hawkins in football uniform

Wayne Hawkins (Photo courtesy: Las Vegas Raiders)

Wayne Hawkins ’60, a standout lineman for Pacific in the 1950s who was one of the original members of the Oakland Raiders and a five-time American Football League All-Star, has died at the age of 84.

Hawkins helped Pacific to winning records during each of his three years (1957-59) with the Tigers. He was inducted into the Pacific Athletics Hall of Fame in 1984.

He was one of only 20 players to play all 10 years that the upstart American Football League existed.

Hawkins played at Pacific and during his professional career alongside quarterback Tom Flores ’58, a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

“He was very good, just solid,” Flores told the Palm Springs Desert Sun. “You could count on him and (center) Jim Otto side by side. They were my protectors in my years with the Raiders.”

Hawkins played right guard and started in Super Bowl II, a 33-14 Raiders loss to the Green Bay Packers.

After retiring from football, Hawkins ran a real estate business and was active in public service. Hawkins also collaborated with fellow former teammates Bob Svihus and Dave Dalby on a book titled “Raider: How Offensive Can You Be? A 25-year History of the Oakland Raiders.”

Pacific was a family affair for the Hawkins. Wayne graduated in 1960 with a degree in physical education, his wife Sharon is a 1961 graduate in art and son Michael, who played football for four years, graduated in 1989 from College of the Pacific.

The team released a statement about the passing of Hawkins: “The Raiders Family mourns the loss of Wayne Hawkins, an original Raider who played in 136 games over 10 seasons with the Silver and Black … The thoughts of the entire Raider Nation are with the Hawkins family at this time.”