Barret Robbins, who starred at Sharpstown High School and went on to become an All-Pro center with the Oakland Raiders died Thursday at 52 years old, the Raiders announced Friday.
Robbins played for legendary Houston high school coach Bobby Plummer at Sharpstown before going to TCU and eventually getting picked by the Raiders in the second round of the 1995 NFL draft. He played nine years with the Raiders, appearing in 121 games, including 105 starts.
“It’s with great regret I tell you I just received a call from Marissa Robbins informing me that Raiders All-Pro center Barret Robbins passed away overnight,” Pro Football Hall of Famer Tim Brown posted on Twitter late Thursday night. “Thankfully, he passed peacefully in his sleep. Please pray for their girls, his family and tons of teammates who will be affected by this! It’s unfortunate that his life was never the same after he was not allowed to play in the Super Bowl! Rest peacefully BR, you deserve it!”
Although Robbins was regarded as one of the best centers in football during his career, his time in the NFL always will be marked by controversy around the Super Bowl in 2003. As a leader of the offensive line, Robbins helped the Raiders reach Super Bowl XXXVII, but he disappeared for nearly 24 hours beginning on the Friday night before the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Raiders coach Bill Callahan said Robbins was incoherent and not able to play when he was located. Robbins later said he had gone off his medication for depression and bipolar disorder. The Raiders lost the game 48-21 and Robbins played just one more season before being released after testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs.
Robbins, who was out of football at 30 years old, had a turbulent post-playing career. He was shot by police during a brawl in Miami in 2005 after which he pleaded guilty to multiple charged and was put on probation. Six years later, he was sentenced to five years in prison for a drug-related probation violation.
“The thoughts and condolences of the entire Raider Nation are with Barret’s family and friends during this difficult time,” the Raiders posted on social media.