John Vella
| No. 71, 75 | |
|---|---|
| Position: | Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. |
| Height: | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) |
| Weight: | 265 lb (120 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school: | Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks, California) |
| College: | USC |
| NFL draft: | 1972 / Round: 2 / Pick: 43 |
| Career history | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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| Career NFL statistics | |
| Player stats at NFL.com · PFR | |
John Vella (born April 21, 1950) is a former
High school career
Vella prepped at
College career
Vella played
Professional career
Joining the Oakland Raiders as a second round pick, Vella started his career as a backup on an offensive line that featured four future Hall of Famers, including tackles Art Shell and Bob Brown. A starter from 1974 to 1976, the 6–4, 265 lb. Vella was part of the Super Bowl XI championship team that dominated the Vikings. From 1977 to 1979, Vella was hampered by injuries, and lost his starting job to Henry Lawrence. His final year in the league, 1980, was spent with the Minnesota Vikings. Vella [1]
In the documentary "America's Game: 1976 Oakland Raiders," Phil Villapiano refers to Vella as "Happy Fella John Vella," saying "Don't upset Happy Fella, 'cause he will tear your head off!"
Business career
In 1987, Vella started his business, originally called "John Vella's Raider Locker Room", with one store in Castro Valley, California. At the time, the Raiders played in Los Angeles. The idea was for a retail store that sold only Raiders gear, novelties and collectibles, and catered to the die-hard fan that he remembered from his playing days. He quickly realized he had found a niche, and when the Raiders returned to Oakland in 1995, his business boomed.