Raiders' Tom Flores says he's not in hall of fame because of shadow cast by Al Davis

Davis was a dominant, controversial fixture for the Raiders until his death in 2011. That included when Flores was head coach for two Super Bowls victories with the Raiders — the Oakland Raiders in January 1981 and Los Angeles Raiders in January 1984.

"When we played in (Super Bowl XV in 1981), it was Al Davis' Raiders against (coach) Dick Vermeil's great Philadelphia Eagles and then my name was never mentioned," Flores said. "I'm kind of surprised (Davis) even put me in the (Raiders) records books."

Flores, though, knew what he was getting into when he took the job for what would be a 1979-87 stint.

"(Davis) was a dominating force, and that's the way he built it and that's the way he was, so I knew it," Flores said. "It wasn't much different before with John Madden (the Raiders' coach from 1969-78, who won one Super Bowl). John didn't make (the hall of fame) until (28 years after retiring)."

On Saturday in the Twin Cities, on the eve of Super Bowl LII between New England and Philadelphia at U.S. Bank Stadium, the hall of fame selection committee will elect the 2018 enshrinees. None of the 18 finalists are coaches.

So another year will pass in which three eligible coaches with two Super Bowl wins will not be named to the hall. In addition to Flores, others on the sideline in that category are George Seifert of San Francisco and Jimmy Johnson of Dallas. Mike Shanahan, who won two Super Bowls with Denver, and Tom Coughlin, who won twice with the New York Giants, both have yet to be retired the required five years to be eligible.

"Personally, I do want (to be in the hall of fame)," said Flores, 80, now a radio analyst for the Raiders. "I won two Super Bowls and I still have one of the best winning percentages in the playoffs. ... I hope I make it for my family and friends and the Raiders fans. It would be the biggest honor of my life. I hope I do when I'm on this side of the grass."

During his nine seasons coaching the Raiders, Flores went 83-53 in the regular season and 8-3 in the playoffs. He later coached Seattle from 1992-94, going 14-34.

Flores disagreed with the contention that his losing record with the Seahawks has played a role in keeping him out of the hall of fame.

"He should be in the hall of fame," said Vermeil, who lost Super Bowl XV 27-10 to Flores' Raiders. "He took over a great organization and won twice."