(Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
The National Football League and more specifically, the Las Vegas Raiders, recently lost a legendary player.
According to ESPN, former 15-year center Jim Otto has passed away at the age of 86.
“Mr. Raider” was obviously one of the greatest Raiders in history given his nickname and his elite play in the trenches for so many years.
RIP to Jim Otto AKA “Mr. Raider” or “Double O”, one of the greatest players in NFL history:
-15-year pro career (started all 210 games)
-12x Pro Bowl
-10x All-Pro
-1967 AFL Champ
-Hall of Fame Class of 1980
-Played in 6 AFL or AFC Championship Games pic.twitter.com/NZMEQRIDa6
— ESPN Radio (@ESPNRadio) May 20, 2024
The Wausau, Wisconsin native played college football at the University of Miami before heading to the NFL.
In college, he played both offensive line and linebacker.
In 1960, despite being drafted by the Minnesota AFL franchise, plans for that potential team fell through.
So, his rights were given to the then-Oakland Raiders, and the rest is history.
From 1960-1974, he spent his whole career in Oakland and became widely known as one of the best offensive linemen in history.
In his 15 years there, he made 9 AFL All-Star Teams and 3 Pro Bowls.
The 10-time All-Pro helped guide Oakland to the 1967 AFL Championship.
What is most remarkable about Otto’s career is that he started all 210 games in his illustrious career.
He was voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1980 and is a member of both the AFL All-Time Team and the NFL 100th Anniversary Team.
By most accounts, he is arguably the franchise’s greatest player, and his legacy deserves to be honored during the upcoming season.
Time will tell to see what owner Mark Davis does to commemorate the legend.
For now, the NFL has lost a true icon and one of the best at his position.
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