Rod Martin, the Raiders' hard-hitting linebacker who helped Oakland win two Super Bowls and set a Super Bowl record with three interceptions, has died at 72 in Las Vegas. His three-interception masterpiece in Super Bowl XV and long run with the Raiders left an outsized imprint on the franchise’s history.
The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported Monday, April 20, 2026, that Martin died in Las Vegas, citing family members and longtime Raiders associates. According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Martin spent 12 seasons with the Raiders after being selected in the 12th round of the 1977 draft out of USC, stayed connected to his alma mater and maintained close ties with former teammates in later years.
Super Bowl XV: The night that made him a legend
Martin’s defining performance came in Super Bowl XV, when he intercepted Philadelphia quarterback Ron Jaworski three times, a single-game Super Bowl record that still stands. Guinness World Records lists the three-interception outing as the benchmark. The turnovers set the tone in a 27–10 Raiders victory and remain the signature snapshot of Martin’s on-field legacy, the kind of big-stage showing that still gets replayed whenever fans talk about clutch defensive performances.
The franchise’s own archive preserves that history with footage and interviews revisiting the game on Raiders.com, where Martin’s instincts and timing are front and center on each of those picks.
Career numbers and honors
Martin played 12 seasons for the Oakland and Los Angeles Raiders after arriving as a 12th-round pick out of USC, per NFL.com. Over that stretch he recorded 14 interceptions, returning four for touchdowns, and recovered 10 fumbles, two of which he took back for scores. He also logged 33.5 sacks.
Those numbers translated into leaguewide recognition. Martin was selected to two Pro Bowls and earned All-Pro honors in the 1980s, according to Wikipedia, cementing his status as one of the era’s most respected linebackers.
After football and family life
After his playing days, Martin returned to USC and worked at the University of Southern California in technology and user-support roles, local coverage reports. The Las Vegas Review-Journal also notes that he leaves behind daughters who were collegiate athletes. Teammates and families have long pointed to Martin’s discipline and preparation as trademarks of how he approached both football and life away from the field.
Legacy
Martin’s three interceptions in Super Bowl XV earned him a coveted spot on the cover of Sports Illustrated, and that performance still defines how many remember him. As the Raiders organization and the wider football community reflect on his passing, Martin is being recalled as a clutch defender who delivered his very best on the game’s biggest stage.
