By Zach Mentz
Cleveland.com
Former Oakland Raiders linebacker Rod Martin, who won two Super Bowls with the Raiders and holds the all-time record with three interceptions in one Super Bowl, has died, the team announced Monday. He was 72.
No cause of death was shared.
“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.
Kansas City Chiefs running back Bruce King is pulled down for no gain by Los Angeles Raiders Rod Martin (53) and Sean Jones (99) during second quarter of NFL game at the Coliseum in Los Angeles, Oct. 7, 1988. Other Raiders moving in are Mike Davis, Bill Pickel and Howie Long, back, left to right. (AP Photo/Lennox McLendon)
Martin played 12 seasons in the NFL from 1977-88, all with the Raiders. He earned two Pro Bowl selections one in 1983, when he was named Second Team All-Pro, and another in 1984, when he recorded a career-high 11 sacks and earned First Team All-Pro honors.
Martin’s most memorable game came when the Raiders defeated the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl XV during the 1980 NFL season. He recorded five tackles and three interceptions against Eagles quarterback Ron Jaworski to help lead the Raiders to a 27-10 victory.
Years after the game, Martin was publicly vocal about not winning Super Bowl MVP, which was awarded to Raiders quarterback Jim Plunkett, who completed 13-of-21 passes for 261 yards and three touchdowns.
“How can the person who intercepted those passes not be named the MVP?” Martin told the Los Angeles Times’ Bill Plaschke in 1993. “I still can’t understand it. … We could have at least shared the award, and I think Jim even feels the same way.
“I don’t know if the record will ever be broken. But I know it will not be broken by a linebacker,” he added.
Martin also helped lead the Raiders to win Super Bowl XVIII during the 1983 NFL season. He recorded five tackles and one sack as the Raiders pummeled Washington, 38-9.
Martin finished his career with 56.5 sacks and 14 interceptions, including four returned for a touchdown, in 165 games.