Jim Otto, a Raiders legend and Hall of Fame offensive tackle, passed away. Otto’s age was eighty-six. The news has been verified by the staff. The Raiders released a statement claiming that Jim was “the personification of consistency” and that “his influence on the American Football League and professional football as a whole cannot be overstated.” “His fierce work ethic and talent allowed him to start a remarkable 210 consecutive league games for the Oakland Raiders. His leadership and tenacity were hallmarks of the dominant Raider teams of the 1960s and 70s.”
During the next fifteen years, Otto played in every game for the team after joining during their initial season in 1960. During his first ten professional seasons, the center was named to the AFL All-Pro team nine times, notably during the Raiders’ 1967 AFL Championship winning season. Throughout the AFL’s ten-year history, Otto was one of just three players to feature in every game.
After the merger in 1970, Otto became known as “Mr. Raider” and became one of the NFL’s best offensive linemen, being selected to three Pro Bowls during his five seasons in the league. The Miami, Florida, native played in 210 regular season games until calling it quits in 1974. When Otto became eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1980, he was inducted. Additionally, he stayed involved with the Raiders organization after they relocated to Las Vegas in 2020. Otto was last observed in the team’s locker room after their 2023 season finale, as The Associated Press reports.
The Raiders said in a statement that Otto, who was well-known for the number ’00’ on his jersey, “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.”
