The Las Vegas Raiders released a statement on the death of one of the franchise’s legends. NFL fans took to social media to remember the former Oakland Raiders player who died recently.
Oakland Raiders legend Jim Otto died
As previously discussed on GH, Jim Otto died at 86:
Otto, who is an 9 x All AFL (the pre-cursor to the ‘All-Pro’ teams post AFL-NFL merger) and 9 x AFL All Star (the pre-merger ‘Pro Bowl’) center, is probably not a household name from the past for the majority of contemporary football fans.
However, for those who study the history of the game, Otto is without question one of the greats at his position. Not only is he one of only 2 1st ballot Hall of Fame centers, along with the Miami Dolphins’ Jim Langer, but played 15 consecutive seasons for the Las Vegas Raiders, a total of 210 straight games – ranking as the 10th longest streak all time.
The Las Vegas Raiders issued a statement
The Raiders posted a tribute on their X account following news of Otto’s death:
The Raiders Family is in deep mourning following the passing of Jim Otto.. The Original Raider. The personification of consistency, Jim’s influence on the American Football League and professional football as a whole cannot be overstated.
His leadership and tenacity were a hallmark of the dominant Raider teams of the 1960s and 70s, and his ferocious work ethic and talent enabled him to start a remarkable 210 consecutive league games for the Oakland Raiders.
Considered undersized when coming out of the University of Miami, Jim handled the first snap in franchise history and went on to be selected as the AFL’s All-Star center for the entirety of the league’s existence.
One of only 20 players to play in every season of the American Football League, he was named the starting center on the AFL All-Time Team and was selected to the NFL’s 100th Anniversary Team in 2019. Jim was known to many as “Mr. Raider,” and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1980, his first year of
eligibility.
The Raiders praised Otto for being great on the field and off:
“00” was the foundational piece of a transcendent offensive line that not only propelled the Raiders to success on the field but resonated with fans and helped build the Raiders persona and mystique.
Beyond the gridiron, Jim was a successful businessman and remained an important part of the Raiders organization, serving as a team executive and providing a perpetual presence at games and events.
Jim was a man whose words and actions epitomized the motto “Commitment to Excellence.”
The sincerest prayers of the entire Raider Nation are with his wife Sally, his son Jim Jr. and wife Leah, and his 14 grandchildren – Alice, Sarah, Amy, Amanda, Josiah, Hannah, Jeremiah, Isaiah, Jennifer, Avery, Noah,
Aiden, Roman and Ellie.
NFL fans remember Jim Otto
Here are some of the best takes of fans remember Otto.
#RIP Jim Otto pic.twitter.com/jvPO1iKml5
— Old Time Football 🏈 (@Ol_TimeFootball) May 20, 2024
Wow… RIP to an absolute legend
— Mr Unlimmmited (@chris_ferland) May 20, 2024
No! It can’t be! The literal best Raider of all time. When you look up raiders, this man comes up! Truly a loss for Raider nation and entire NFL community
— (🔴 LIVE ) AllDayAJT (@AllDayAJT) May 20, 2024
I was shopping at The Raider Image in Oakland, near The Coliseum late 2019, Jim Otto rolled up out of no where and started talking to us. He offered to sign whatever we wanted, took photos and then talked to us for almost an hour. RIP to The Incomparable Jim Otto.
— P (@justwinbaby32) May 20, 2024
When they talk about the Raider mystique, it is players like Jim Otto 00 who define that term. RIP Jim, a true Raider Legend.
— Mark Avila (@sloride21) May 20, 2024
Legend of the game. My favorite Raider of all-time. The best, toughest center to ever play the game. In my opinion, the player that the “mystique” of the Raiders is built off of.
Rest in peace, 00.
— Steve (@Struggles00) May 20, 2024
THE foundational piece of the franchise. There from the very beginning. And from a visual perspective, no player ever looked quite like him. One of one. ☝🏾
— Cali-Texan (@CalexanBlaxican) May 20, 2024
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