Greg Biekert returns to Raider game day to light the Al Davis Memorial Torch

Before kickoff of Thursday’s Raiders vs. Cardinals game, former Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Greg Biekert will light the Al Davis Memorial Torch, a ceremonial moment tied to one of the franchise’s most recognizable traditions.

Biekert’s connection to Al Davis is direct and historical. He was drafted by Davis in the seventh round of the 1993 NFL Draft, then spent nine seasons with the Raiders as a linebacker, building his pro résumé during the period when Davis’s football philosophy and roster-building instincts were defining features of the organization.

For Raiders fans, the tribute is also a reminder of the longevity that can come from entering the league without the benefit of early-round status. Selected in the later stages of the draft, Biekert carved out a multi-year role in a position group that is often defined by assignments, communication, and consistency more than headlines.

The timing places the moment on a particularly visible stage. With the Raiders and Cardinals set to meet on Thursday in preseason Week 1 action, the torch-lighting is expected to be part of the stadium atmosphere before either club begins the work of the new season’s evaluation period.

Biekert’s Raiders tenure spanned nine seasons, a span that matters for perspective because it reflects what teams often look for in defensive players: the ability to adapt, remain reliable in coverage and run defense responsibilities, and stay available across changing offensive trends. While the game itself will be about the preseason’s on-field process, the torch ceremony frames the matchup through franchise memory.

The Raiders’ decision to bring Biekert back for the honor also underscores how the franchise continues to use game-day moments to connect present roster-building to past identity. Al Davis remains one of the central figures in franchise history, and the torch lighting serves as a public bridge between the organization’s earlier eras and its current football operations.

As the Thursday game approaches, the immediate thing to watch is how the Raiders incorporate the event into the preseason experience. The torch-lighting itself is ceremonial, but it sets a tone for the evening by putting a former player, drafted by Davis and later developed by the Raiders, at the center of the stadium spotlight.