Raiders FB Hawkins Didn't Come Up Short

Frank Hawkins doesn’t rank in the top 20 of the Oakland-Los Angeles Raiders rushing list, nor does he make the Raider Today list of the franchise’s five all-time leading fullbacks.

However, the 5-9 210-pound Hawkins played a key role in his seven seasons with the Silver and Black.

That’s because Hawkins, drafted by the Raiders in the 10th round (No. 276 overall) of the 1981 National Football League draft out of Nevada, became the lead blocker for the Raiders’ greatest back, Marcus Allen.

“The most overlooked thing about Frank Hawkins is his leadership,” said Allen, whose 8,545 yards are the most in Raiders history. “It’s because he was a small guy, basically, the smallest guy out there.

“But he’s the one who got everything going. He’s like a quarterback out on the field, especially with the offensive linemen. I lead by example. He’s very vocal. He says things that can’t be printed.

“On most plays, I just followed Frank and it worked out. He was a great blocker, especially for his size.”

The best came in 1983, when the Raiders downed the Seattle Seahawks, 30-14, in the American Football Conference Game as Hawkins rushed for touchdowns of one and five yards in the second quarter as the Silver and Black took charge by building a 27-0 lead.

Allen rushed for 154 yards and a three-yard score behind Hawkins.

“It was a tougher game than it looked,” said Allen, who had a bloody mouth after switching roles with Hawkins and leading one of his touchdown runs.

That put the Raiders in Super Bowl XVIII against the heavily Washington Redskins, who had beaten the Silver and Black, 37-35, earlier in the season, when Allen didn’t play because of an injury.

This time it was different.

“We lost a close game on the road against the Redskins early in the season, but we knew we could beat them,” said Hawkins, who rushed for 64 yards in that first game without Allen. “Three months later, I walked out on the field to warm up during the Super Bowl. All the hairs on the back of my neck were standing straight out. We knew we were going to dominate Washington, and we did.”

And Hawkins did his part.

Allen, the game’s most valuable player, followed Hawkins for 191 yards, including touchdown runs of five and 74 yards in the third quarter to blow the game open, with Hawkins throwing key blocks on both plays.

Hawkins rushed only three times for six yards and caught two passes for 30 in the Super Bowl, but he didn’t care.

“My two greatest experiences were winning the Super Bowl in 1984 and having a relationship with owner Al Davis after my playing days,” said Hawkins, who is Nevada’s all-time leading rusher with 5,333 yards. “Both were once-in-a-lifetime experiences and a true honor.

“We won the Super Bowl, and that is something that will stay with you forever. I wore my Super Bowl ring daily for a while, but now I realize how valuable it is and save it for special occasions.

“I was blessed to play for the Raiders in both Oakland and Los Angeles after growing up in Las Vegas. I’m honored to be a part of Raider Nation, which to me is something that’s larger than life.”

Even though he was primarily a blocking back with the Raiders, especially with Allen next to him, Hawkins rushed for 1,659 yards and 15 touchdowns in his seven seasons with the Raiders and caught 87 passes for 691 yards and three more scores. He also returned three kickoffs for touchdowns.

Hawkins was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1997 and voted No. 14 on the Big Sky Conference’s “50 Greatest Male Athletes.”

Although he probably won’t receive such honors as a pro, members of Raider Nation, especially Marcus Allen, remember how much he meant to the Raiders.

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