The Las Vegas Raiders lost one of their own on Monday. Rod Martin, a linebacker who helped define the Raiders' identity during their most dominant years, passed away at the age of 72.
Martin arrived with little fanfare. The Raiders picked him in the 12th round of the 1977 NFL Draft out of USC, and nobody was projecting a long career for a late-round linebacker. He proved everyone wrong. The organization confirmed the news on April 20, 2026, and tributes from across the NFL followed quickly.
"The Raiders Family is deeply saddened by the passing of Rod Martin," the team wrote. "A beloved member of the Raiders Family and a favorite of Raiders fans everywhere, the deepest condolences of the entire Raider Nation are with Rod's family at this time."
Over 12 seasons with the franchise, Martin appeared in 165 games and made 147 starts, becoming one of the more reliable defensive players of his era. He earned two Pro Bowl selections and was named All-Pro twice, including a first-team nod in 1984.
But it was the Super Bowl stage where Martin made history. In Super Bowl XV, he intercepted three passes (a record that still stands) helping the Raiders beat the Philadelphia Eagles 27-10. He came back in Super Bowl XVIII and delivered again, recording a sack and a fumble recovery in a 38-9 win over Washington.
Over his career, Martin totaled 14 interceptions for 225 yards and four touchdowns. He also recovered 10 fumbles and returned them for 122 yards and two more scores. His 33.5 official sacks only tell part of the story, too, since sacks weren't tracked as an official stat until 1982, which was already his fifth year in the league.
Martin was one of the core pieces of the Silver and Black defense in the late 1970s and 1980s. That physical brand of football became the standard the Raiders were measured against for decades.
After football, Martin returned to USC and built a second career at the university's Information Sciences Institute, working as a programmer before moving into technical and user support management.
Family was central to his life away from the game. His daughter Jessica played volleyball at Bethune-Cookman University and his daughter Jade played softball at Morgan State University.
