FOOTBALL

Former USC Linebacker Rod Martin Passes Away

Rod Martin, a standout linebaker with USC and the Raiders, has passed away, the Raiders announced today.

Martin was a first-team all-conference in 1976 on the Rose Bowl-winning team and then drafted by the Raiders in the 12th round of the 1977 NFL Draft.

He was a two-time Super Bowl champion with the Raiders in 1980 and 1983 and intercepted a record three passes in Super Bowl XV in 1980.

He was first-team All-Pro in 1984 and second-team in 1983. He made the Pro Bowl in 1983 and 1984.

Martin transferred to USC from Los Angeles City College and graduated from Hamilton High School in Los Angeles.

23 thoughts on “Former USC Linebacker Rod Martin Passes Away”

    1. KAM: In that picture Rod is taking down Bruin great Wendell Tyler in the 1975 classic.

      DON: Wendell had 9 fumbles in that game to set a Pac 8 record… I wonder how many Rod jarred loose?

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  3. KAM: A Game For the Ages!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckaadMLGeRk…

    DON: Rod Martin is among 48 former Raiders nominated for the Hall of Fame. The selection process involves two screening committees that will review the nominees and reduce the list to 50 candidates in both the Modern-Era and Seniors categories.

    Fans can support Martin’s nomination by sending letters to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, advocating for his induction based on his impressive career and contributions to the game.

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  4. First team all conference in 1976 and doesn’t get drafted until the 12th round! Recall that Madden called Robinson and asked who is a sleeper on his roster and he told Madden to draft Martin.

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      1. OUR MAN TIREBITER IS GOING STRONG AT 97! HOPE HE VISITS US AGAIN BEFORE THE 2026 SEASON OPENS…

        #….WE MISS HIM!!

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    1. HIS REAL NAME IS BION —HE PLAYED FOOTBALL FOR USC — HE’S SMART AS A TACK —AND HAS ONE OF THE BEST SENSES OF HUMOR I EVER ENCOUNTERED…

      #….AND ONLY THE REAL JOHN WOULD ASK THAT QUESTION….

      ‘I’M SORRY FOR EVER DOUBTING YOU.’

      —-SIR ECTOR TO KING ARTHUR IN ‘EXCALIBER’

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    2. KAM: Wrong. Cowardly Sparrow Gabby wants to know the real identity of every poster here so she can t h r e a t e n the and d o x them and drive them from the board like she did to the F a t B o o s t e r a decade ago and how she tried to do it to you…remember?

      Gabby


      November 14, 2025 at 8:47 pm.

      H o k u l a n i G o l f V i l l a s Community

      (I got my e y e s on you)

      DON: Don’t be fooled, she imitates everyone like steve49.

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  8. Meanwhile, returning to what is supposed to be a sports blog and only occasionally is one, but in that 1976 SC-ucla game the refs stopped the game 3 times because SC complained about the crowd noise.

    They would never do that today I don’t believe, especially with home crowds being begged to make noise to jam the visitor’s signals

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    1. KAM: Yes. For several decades (roughly 1970s–1990s) both college and pro rulebooks included provisions letting officials stop play and penalize “excessive noise” or charge timeouts when crowd/band/PA noise prevented teams from hearing signals.

      DON: Enforcement was inconsistent and the rule was eventually de-emphasized/removed for general fan noise, though restrictions on bands, PA/music, and artificial noise devices remain

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  10. I Let Gabby2 and the others berate Gabby1 and vice versa. I want no part of it. Silence is not affirmation

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