The Tragic Death of Chester McGlockton, an All-Pro Raiders Great
Chester McGlockton was the bright and impactful player the Raiders needed in some of their down years.
By the early-1990s, the glory days were over for the Raiders. Bo Jackson’s hip injury ended his career prematurely and the Raiders, while still a consistent threat to finish with a .500 record or better, were no longer an AFC powerhouse.
In came McGlockton, who shined whether he played for the Los Angeles or Oakland Raiders. Sadly, McGlockton died way too young.
Chester McGlockton played 12 NFL seasons
Born in North Carolina, Chester McGlockton starred at Clemson in the early 1990s.
The Raiders, still in Los Angeles at the time, selected McGlockton with the 16th overall pick in 1992. McGlockton was at his best in the mid-1990s, making the Pro Bowl every year from 1994-97.
McGlockton also earned All-Pro honors in three straight years from 1994-96. At his best, McGlockton was the rare defensive tackle who could consistently hit the quarterback.
McGlockton had four seasons with at least seven sacks, including 9.5 in 1994, and was also credited with 14 forced fumbles.
In addition to playing for the Raiders, McGlockton also spent three years with the Kansas City Chiefs and another two seasons with the Denver Broncos.
Rather than spend 2003 with the San Diego Chargers and complete his AFC West Division tour, McGlockton played his final NFL year as a backup lineman for the New York Jets.
McGlockton’s best years came with the Raiders
The bulk of Chester McGlockton’s career — and his most successful years — came with the Raiders.
McGlockton had 39.5 sacks, forced 10 fumbles, and recovered another five loose balls in 90 games (80 starts) for the Raiders. He made all four of his Pro Bowls and earned All-Pro honors three times with the Raiders.
Several outlets provided All-Pro honors in the 1990s, a far different time from now, where the only regularly recognized one is the AP All-Pro team.
McGlockton’s 39.5 sacks currently rank sixth in Raiders history, and he is one behind Khalil Mack, now with the Chicago Bears. The NFL only began officially counting sacks in 1982, however.
Chester McGlockton tragically died at age 42
A few years after his playing career ended, Chester McGlockton went into coaching.
McGlockton spent the 2009 season as an intern on the Tennessee Volunteers, then led by ex-Raiders head coach Lane Kiffin. A year later, McGlockton traveled to Stanford and joined Jim Harbaugh’s staff as a defensive assistant.
McGlockton was in his second year in that role when he tragically died in November 2011.
According to ESPN, Harbaugh — then in his first season with the 49ers — called McGlockton a “very close and dear friend.”
“Chester was a great guy, good man, doing the right things. … He was helping a lot of people. We’re really going to miss him. To say he was coming into his own as a coach would be understating it. He had already blossomed. He was so positive with the players and with the other coaches. He always had coaching advice or spiritual advice, a smile for you.”
According to The Mercury News, the autopsy report found that McGlockton had an enlarged heart.
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