Las Vegas Raiders: 15 best linebackers of all-time
OLB. (1977-88). Rod Martin. 3. player. 28.
Best linebackers in Las Vegas Raiders history: 3. Rod Martin
From 1977 to 1988, the Raiders had one of the best outside linebackers in the league roaming from sideline to sideline. Rod Martin had a lock on the right outside linebacker position and didn’t relinquish it until he retired after the 1988 NFL season. Few did it better than Martin, and that’s why he earned a top-three finish on this compilation of the best Raiders linebackers of all-time.
The Raiders took a chance on a kid out of USC, selecting him in the 12th round of the 1977 draft. That kid took his chance and ran with it, making himself the diamond in the rough that the Raiders were hoping to find.
It took Martin two seasons to acclimate to the professional game, but once he did, boy was he an incredible player. Martin spent his entire illustrious career with the Raiders, sticking with the team after their move to Los Angeles in the early 1980’s.
In those 12 seasons, Martin amassed 165 regular season games, including 147 starts. Add in 12 playoff appearances and 11 starts, and you’re looking at the longest tenured Raider linebacker, and for good reason.
Martin earned Pro Bowl honors twice, first team All-Pro honors once, second team All-Pro honors three times and won two Super Bowls during his stint with the Silver and Black.
You would be hard pressed to find a better resume than that. Martin was an incredible, insatiable beast on the outside for the Raiders. Also, he tacked on 14 interceptions and 33.5 sacks to go with it. Martin could really do it all.