Bob Svihus


Robert Craig Svihus is a former American football offensive tackle in the American Football League and the National Football League for the Oakland Raiders and New York Jets. He played college football at the University of Southern California

High school career

Svihus attended Sequoia High School, where he practiced football, basketball and baseball.
In football he played at guard and tackle, while being a part of the 1959 and 1960 undefeated teams. As a senior, he received All S.P.A.L. and All Northern California honors.
In 1991, he was inducted into the San Mateo County Sports Hall of Fame.

College career

Svihus accepted a football scholarship from the University of Southern California. In 1962, he was a part of an undefeated team that won the Rose Bowl and National championship. As a senior, he became a starter at left tackle and received second-team All-AAWU honors.

Professional career

Oakland Raiders

Svihus was selected by the Oakland Raiders in the third round of the 1965 AFL Draft and by the Dallas Cowboys in the fourth round of the 1965 NFL Draft.
He chose to sign with the Oakland Raiders, becoming a starter at left tackle as a rookie, to protect quarterback Tom Flores. He would keep the job until 1969, while protecting quarterback Daryle Lamonica and missing only one game. In 1967, he played in Super Bowl II, a 14-33 loss against the Green Bay Packers.
In 1970 after the AFL–NFL merger, he was replaced at left tackle by future Hall of Famer Art Shell and started only 1 game. On August 26, 1971, he was traded to the New York Jets in exchange for a second round pick.

New York Jets

Svihus was the starter at left tackle from 1971 to 1972, protecting quarterback Joe Namath. In 1973, he only started 4 games after being passed on the depth chart by Robert Woods. He retired on September 10, 1974.

Personal life

Svihus co-wrote a book with Wayne Hawkins and Dave Dalby called Raider: How Offensive can you be? A 25-year history of the Oakland Raiders. The book was published by Peninsula Publishing in Monterey, California and was written in 1986-1987.