Quad Cities Raiders

The Quad City Raiders was a Continental Football League (CFL) team based in the Quad Cities. Between 1964 and 1968 the Raiders distinguished themselves as one of the worst minor league football teams in history.

The Raiders started in 1964 as an independent team in Rock Island, Illinois. They went 8 and 4 against a group of Midwest semi-pro teams which included two Iowa prison clubs. They met the Omaha Mustangs twice and lost both games badly. The Raiders and the Mustangs would play several more times over the next several years.

In 1965 the Raiders were a charter member of the Pro Football League of America (PFLA), which was, ironically, founded on the same day as the CFL. The Raiders finished last, in the first season of the PFLA, with a 1 and 9 record. Their only victory was over the new Des Moines Warriors. In five games they drew a total attendance of 3,800 people.

1966 was not any better, as the Raiders were unable to win a game in league competition. They did win two games against semi-pro clubs. Playing in Davenport, Iowa, the fans seemed to like the Raiders a bit better as they averaged an attendance of 1,333 for the season.

1967 was the third and final season for the PFLA. The Raiders (still in Davenport) extended their losing streak to 25 games, by having their second straight no-win season. Attendance fell to an average of 860 per game. In three years, the Raiders never placed a player on any of the all-league teams. They lost all eight games against the Omaha Mustangs.

The Raiders played two games in the 1968 CFL season, and then quit the league due to being very poorly financed for this level of competition. They were replaced by the Las Vegas Cowboys. They drew 3,000 for their single home game. (The league average, for 95 games, was more than 5,700.)

With losing their only two games in the CFL, the Raiders extended their losing streak to 27 games, longest among any pro minor league football teams.