Raiders’ Super Bowl hero Rod Martin dies at age 72
Linebacker holds Super Bowl interception record
(Original Caption) 1/25/81-New Orleans, Louisiana: Oaklands' Rod Martin (53) follows teammate Matt Millen (55), returning an interception that set up the Raiders first touchdown against the Eagles 1/25. Rod Martin, one of the Raiders’ all-time great Super Bowl performers, has died at the age of 72. The team announced Martin’s death Monday via its X Account.
pic. twitter. com/fvtvCJmMz6 — Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) April 20, 2026 The linebacker played his entire 12-season career with the Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders spanning 1977-88.
The Los Angeles native was a 12th round draft pick in 1977 (No. 317 overall). He then became an important figure in the Raiders’ Super Bowl history.
Drafted months after the Raiders’ won their first Super Bowl, Martin was a key figure on their Super Bowl XV and Super Bowl XVIII championship teams. He had three interceptions against the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl XV. It remains a single-game Super Bowl record.