Caleb Harris
Jim Otto, considered “The Original Raider” and one of the greatest centers in the history of professional football, has passed away at the age of 86.
The Raiders announced his death Sunday night. Raiders Owner Mark Davis lit the Al Davis memorial torch in honor of Otto shortly after announcing his passing.
“The personification of consistency, Jim’s influence on the American Football League and professional football as a whole cannot be overstated,” the Raiders said. in a statement posted on your website. “His leadership and tenacity were a hallmark of the dominant Raider teams of the 1960s and ’70s, and his fierce work ethic and talent allowed him to start a remarkable 210 consecutive league games for the Oakland Raiders.”
Otto was drafted by the Raiders in 1960, the first year of the franchise’s existence. Over the next 15 years, Otto would play in – and start – every one of the franchise’s 210 regular season games (plus 13 additional playoff games), an incredible feat of stamina and durability. He earned 12 AFL All-Star/Pro Bowl selections and 10 All-Pro nods before his Hall of Fame enshrinement in 1980.
Nicknamed “00” because of his unique jersey number, Otto helped the Raiders establish themselves as one of the top teams in professional football. He helped lead the franchise to its first Super Bowl appearance late in the 1967 season. During Otto’s final seven seasons with the team, the Raiders won seven division titles and appeared in six conference championship games in addition to Super Bowl II.
The epitome of a tough guy, Otto never missed a game despite suffering numerous injuries throughout his career. He has had more than 70 surgeries, including the amputation of his right leg in 2007. Otto has also suffered more than 20 concussions.
“I often consider being a football player to be a gladiator,” Otto told Bleacher Report in 2009, via the New York Post. “There’s something inside you that says, ‘I want to go out there and prove myself.’ Most of the time you will get hurt. This is the life you choose. Some people need a challenge in life and playing hockey or football was the way I could prove it.
Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility, Otto is part of the most decorated offense in pro football history since the 1970 merger. He is one of seven members of the Raiders’ 1974 offense with gold jackets and busts bronze in Canton, Ohio. Along with Otto, quarterback Ken Stabler, receivers Cliff Branch and Fred Biletnikoff, tight end Dave Casper and fellow offensive linemen Art Shell and Gene Upshaw also had their careers immortalized in the Hall of Fame.
Otto remained connected to the Raiders organization after retirement, most recently serving as the team’s director of special projects. He was in the locker room to celebrate the team’s victory over longtime rival Broncos last January according to ESPN.
