Raiders Super Bowl hero LB dies at age 72
The Raiders have lost a legendary linebacker and Super Bowl hero.
The Raiders lost a legend today. Rod Martin, who was the team's starting linebacker for his entire 12-year NFL career from 1977-88 has passed away at the age of 72. The team posted a statement, mourning the loss of their legendary defender.
pic. twitter. com/fvtvCJmMz6 ā Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) April 20, 2026 Martin is perhaps most well known for his heroics in Super Bowl XV.
The longtime Raiders linebacker intercepted Ron Jaworski three times in the game. To this day that is the most by one player in a Super Bowl in NFL history. The Raiders would run away with the 28-10 win for their second Lombardi trophy.
Three years later, the Raiders were back in the Super Bowl and once again Martin played an outsized role in a dominating win including a sack on Joe Theisman, a pass breakup, a run stuff on John Riggins for no gain on fourth and one, and a fumble recovery. Martin earned his place among the greatest Raiders of all time, certainly among the select group of career Raiders as the USC star and Los Angeles native never played every game of his professional career in Silver & Black, the latter half of that career neighboring his alma mater. This article originally appeared on Raiders Wire: Raiders Super Bowl hero LB dies at age 72