Remembering Rod Martin: Raiders Super Bowl Star and USC Legend Passes Away at 72
Legendary Coach John Madden Discovers Rod Martin in Unconventional Draft Moment
Los Angeles, CA – The late John Madden, a renowned NFL coach, discovered linebacker Rod Martin during a surprising twist of fate rather than traditional scouting. In the 1977 NFL Draft, the Oakland Raiders were faced with a throwaway 12th-round pick. Frustrated by discussions of selecting a basketball player or track athlete, Madden boldly asserted that he could find a player on the USC campus who would contribute more.
“Ron Wolf says, ‘All right, smart guy,’” recalled Madden’s son, Mike. With just a few picks remaining, Madden decided to contact USC coach John Robinson.
Robinson’s immediate inquiry was whether Martin had been drafted. Upon learning Martin was still available, Madden emphasized the need for a durable player for training camp. Robinson reassured him, saying, “Rod Martin will make your team.”
Indeed, Martin did much more than just make the team; he etched his name into Super Bowl lore by setting a record with three interceptions during a dominating defensive display. The linebacker played his entire 12-year career with the Raiders and passed away at the age of 72. The team confirmed his death on Monday but did not disclose the cause.
"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 franchise stated, calling Martin "a beloved member of the Raiders Family and a favorite of Raiders fans everywhere."
A two-time Super Bowl champion and a two-time Pro Bowl selection, Martin delivered an unforgettable performance in Super Bowl XV, intercepting Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Ron Jaworski three times to secure a 27-10 victory.
“What I remember about Rod was his ability to diagnose and react,” Jaworski noted in a phone interview. “He made two phenomenal plays. He has three interceptions, but interceptions one and two—I’d like to say they were bad decisions on my part. They weren’t. I tried to squeeze throws in. He just made a great play. He was a great athlete.”
Three years later, Martin continued to be a crucial part of the Raiders’ defense during another Super Bowl victory, contributing significantly with a sack and a critical stop against the Washington Redskins.
Born in Welch, West Virginia, the son of a coal miner, Martin was raised in Los Angeles. He attended Hamilton High School, followed by Los Angeles City College and USC, despite being deemed a “tweener” by NFL scouts due to his weight and speed.
Hall of Fame quarterback Warren Moon, two years Martin’s junior at Hamilton, reflected on their friendship: “He was the ultimate athlete. He wasn’t the biggest guy in the world, but he had the strongest hands and forearms. He could just take a tight end or whoever came to block him, grab his pads, shove him off, and go make the play.”
Martin’s journey represents not only a remarkable personal achievement but a testament to his tenacity and skill, qualities that led Madden to declare, “We’re going to take Rod Martin, linebacker, USC”—a decision that would pay dividends for the Raiders for years to come.
