Rod Martin, the Raiders linebacker who set a Super Bowl record with three interceptions in Super Bowl XV, has died at age 72, the team confirmed Monday.
Martin, a 12th-round pick from USC in 1977, spent his entire 12-year career with the franchise, winning two Super Bowls. In Super Bowl XV, he picked off Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Ron Jaworski three times in a 27-10 victory. In Super Bowl XVIII, he sacked Washington’s Joe Theismann and stopped John Riggins on fourth-and-1 in a 38-9 win, also recovering a fumble.
“The Raiders family is deeply saddened by the passing of Rod Martin, a standout linebacker and key player on two Super Bowl championship teams,” the team said in a statement. “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.”
A two-time Pro Bowler, Martin finished his career with 14 interceptions, returning four for touchdowns, and added two more scores on 10 fumble recoveries. He returned to USC after playing and worked at his alma mater. Both of his daughters were collegiate athletes.
