Rod Martin, Raiders Super Bowl hero and USC standout, dies at 72
Rod Martin, who grew up in L.A., played decisive roles for the Raiders in two Super Bowl wins and was a star linebacker at USC, is dead at the age of 72.
Los Angeles Raiders linebacker Rod Martin (53) tackles San Diego Chargers running back Lionel James during a game at the Coliseum on Sept. 28, 1986. (George Rose / Getty Images) A legendary NFL coach found linebacker Rod Martin not by scouting him at USC, but almost by accident.
The Oakland Raiders had a throwaway 12th-round pick in the 1977 draft, and then-coach John Madden grew frustrated hearing his personnel executives contemplate using it on a basketball player or track guy. Finally, Madden blurted out that he could find a random kid walking around the USC campus in sandals who could make more of an impact than that. “Ron Wolf says, 'All right, smart guy,'" recalled Madden’s son, Mike.
“So they were a couple picks away and dad goes, 'Let me call [USC coach] John Robinson . '" Robinson had one question: Has Rod Martin been drafted? Raiders linebacker Rod Martin stands on the field during a game against the Buffalo Bills on Dec.
6, 1987, at the Coliseum. (Mike Powell / Getty Images) “Dad goes, 'What position does he play? '" the younger Madden said.