John Vella was born in Cleveland Ohio on April 21, 1950. John attended Notre Dame high school In Sherman Oaks CA for 4 years. He attended USC for football and was an All-American in 1971. Vella started his career as a backup on an offensive line that featured four future Hall of Famers. Vella was part of the Super Bowl XI, 1977 championship team that demolished the Vikings.

 

 

 

• 1971  He was an All American at USC

• 1972 He was the second round draft pick from the Oakland raiders

• 1972 to 1979 He play offensive tackle for the oakland Raiders

• 1980 Played for one year for the Minnesota Vikings

• In 1987 John Vella started his business originally called "John Vella's Raider Locker Room" but the Raiders filed a lawsuit for trademark infringement. He was forced to closed shop eventually  after trying to change the name to “John Vella’s locker room.”