Rod Martin, Raiders Super Bowl Star, Dies at 72

Rod Martin, the longtime Oakland Raiders linebacker whose three interceptions in Super Bowl XV set a lasting record and helped secure the team's championship, has died. He was 72. The Las Vegas Raiders announced Martin's death on Monday in a statement expressing deep sadness over the loss of a standout player on two Super Bowl-winning teams.

Martin spent his entire 12-year NFL career with the Raiders, appearing in 165 games and starting 147 of them after being selected in the 12th round of the 1977 draft out of the University of Southern California. A two-time Pro Bowl selection in 1983 and 1984, he earned second-team All-Pro honors in 1983 and first-team recognition the following year. During that standout 1984 season, Martin recorded 11 sacks, three forced fumbles, a fumble recovery returned for a touchdown, a safety and two interceptions, one of which he took to the end zone.

His postseason contributions defined his legacy. In Super Bowl XV on January 25, 1981, Martin intercepted Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Ron Jaworski three times in the Raiders' 27-10 victory, a single-game Super Bowl record that still stands. Those turnovers, along with five solo tackles and five...