Longtime Raiders LB Rod Martin dies at 72

Rod Martin, who spent his entire 12-year NFL career with the Raiders and was part of two Super Bowl championships, has passed away at age 72.

BY FIELD LEVEL MEDIA

Apr 21, 2026, 5:32 AM

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Linebacker Rod Martin, who spent his entire 12-year NFL career with the Raiders and was part of two Super Bowl championships, died at age 72, the team announced on Monday.

No cause of death was stated.

Martin might be best remembered for his performance in Oakland’s title-winning victory over the Philadelphia Eagles on Jan. 25, 1981, when he grabbed a still-standing Super Bowl record three interceptions.

Rod Martin was a standout linebacker who helped the franchise to victories in Super Bowls XV and XVIII.

He forever secured his place in Raiders lore with a record-breaking three-interception performance in the Silver and Black’s Super Bowl XV triumph over the Eagles. pic.twitter.com/Ytrz98WFK8

— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) April 20, 2026

More on former Raiders LB Rod Martin

The Raiders moved to Los Angeles ahead of the 1982 season, and they won another Super Bowl title to conclude the 1983 campaign. Martin had five tackles, a sack, and a fumble recovery in his team’s 38-9 rout of Washington on Jan. 22, 1984.

Martin was Oakland’s 12th-round pick out of the University of Southern California in 1977. After appearing in just one game as a rookie, Martin became a mainstay in the Raiders’ lineup, starting 147 of his 165 career games.

He made the Pro Bowl after the 1983 and 1984 seasons, and he was selected as a first-time All-Pro in 1984, when he had career highs of 11 sacks and three forced fumbles.

Martin wound up credited with 14 interceptions, 10 forced fumbles, 10 fumble recoveries, and 56.5 sacks, though sacks weren’t compiled as an official stat until 1982.

–Field Level Media