The Las Vegas Raiders presently hold nine picks in the first seven rounds in the 2024 National Football League Draft, including No. 13 overall. In previous years, there were up to 20 rounds. Perhaps the greatest late-round NFL draft choice in Raiders history was when they took unheralded linebacker Rod Martin from USC in the 12th and last round, No. 317 overall, in 1977. Despite playing major roles in the Raiders’ Super Bowl XV and XVIII victories, the 6-foot-2, 218-pound Martin remains an underappreciated figure in Silver and Black history.
Martin was first deemed too little to play linebacker in the NFL and too sluggish to play defensive back, but he bulked up to 225 pounds. After being waived and re-signed by the Raiders as a rookie, he established himself as one of the top linebackers in team history from 1977 to 1988.
“Rod Martin is one of the most underrated players in Raiders history,” said two-time Super Bowl champion Coach Tom Flores. “He just kept working and working to make himself a great player.” According to Hall of Fame linebacker Ted Hendricks, who played opposite Martin, “Rod tackles better than I do, and he’s better in man-to-man coverage.” Teams, however, prefer to side with him. He safeguarded that aspect, which is why we were so successful. Because the Raiders were overstocked with linebackers, Martin was dealt to the San Francisco 49ers in 1977, but he never played for them and was released two weeks later, so he returned to the Raiders and rose to prominence.
“I happen to look good in silver and black,” said Martin, who spent 12 seasons with the Raiders. In Super Bowl XV, Martin intercepted quarterback Ron Jaworski’s opening ball and returned it 17 yards to the Philadelphia 30. Jim Plunkett delivered a two-yard touchdown throw to Cliff Branch seven plays later, and the Raiders led 7-0 with 8:46 remaining in the first quarter. The Eagles never caught up. Although tackles were not an official statistic at the time, Martin also assisted the Raiders in limiting Eagles running back Wilbert Montgomery to 44 yards on 16 attempts.
