Fred Biletnikoff Returns to Raiders, Will Coach Team’s Wide Receivers

Hall of Fame receiver Fred Biletnikoff rejoined the Raiders Monday when he was hired as wide receiver coach.

Biletnikoff, 46, has been an assistant coach with the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League and with the Oakland Invaders of the United States Football League for the past five seasons.

The most valuable player in Super Bowl XI, when the Raiders beat the Minnesota Vikings, 32-14, at Pasadena in 1977, Biletnikoff holds franchise records with 589 receptions, 8,974 receiving yards and 76 touchdown receptions in 14 seasons. He is tied with Marcus Allen with 77 total touchdowns.

Biletnikoff, who had three receptions to the Minnesota one-yard-line in Super Bowl XI, caught 70 passes for 1,167 yards and 10 touchdowns in 18 postseason games. All three totals are second on the all-time list.

The 6-foot-1, 190-pounder from Erie, Pa., a second-round draft choice of the Raiders out of Florida State in 1965, played in three American Football League championship games, five American Conference title games and Super Bowls II and XI.

He also played in two AFL all-star games and four Pro Bowls.

Biletnikoff became a member of the pro football Hall of Fame last year, joining former teammates Jim Otto, George Blanda, Willie Brown and Gene Upshaw. Art Shell, also a Raider assistant coach, will be inducted into the Hall of Fame this summer.