Jim Otto, the Hall of Fame center affectionately known as “Mr. Raider” for his remarkable durability despite numerous injuries, has passed away at the age of 86, the team confirmed Sunday night.
The cause of death was not immediately disclosed.
The Las Vegas Raiders stated the following on X:
“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 AL 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.
“’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.”’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.”
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby honored Otto on X, calling him an “absolute legend & incredible person.”
Otto joined the Oakland Raiders during their inaugural season in the American Football League in 1960 and remained a key player for the next 15 years.
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He never missed a game due to injuries, playing in 210 consecutive regular-season games and 308 straight total contests, despite undergoing nine operations on his knees during his career.
His right leg was amputated in 2007.
Former Raiders quarterback Rich Gannon once said of him, “He’s a warrior. When you think of the old-time, tough Raider, you think of Jim Otto.”
Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1980, Otto is celebrated as one of the AFL’s all-time greats.
Hall of Fame President Jim Porter stated,
“Jim Otto personified the aura and mystique of the Raiders. He was ‘The Original Raider,’ leading a new franchise from its inception into its first run of glory years from the late 1960s into the 1970s. His legendary reliability — with 210 consecutive starts in the AFL and NFL — and the accolades he acquired serve as a testament to his dedication to the organization and the game.”
Over his life, Otto reportedly underwent more than 50 surgeries, many related to football injuries, dealing with multiple joint replacements, arthritis, and severe back and neck issues.
His right leg was amputated in 2007.
He also battled prostate cancer and suffered from two major infections post-retirement.
“I can take any type of surgery in the world except for when it comes to something that’s internal,” Otto once remarked. “When it’s cosmetic, fixing your nose, fixing your knee, fixing your elbows or whatever, that’s nothing.”
Wearing his iconic No. 00 jersey — a nod to his name “Aught-oh” — Otto played in nine AFL All-Star games and the first three AFC-NFC Pro Bowls before being inducted into the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility.
“Throughout my career, I worked hard to continue to stay a level above everyone else,” Otto said. “Every day I walked on to the field, I was the best center. That’s the way I wanted to be. I continued to play at that level with those expectations.”
Otto was instrumental in the Raiders’ rise to prominence, helping the team win seven division titles in his final eight seasons and reaching the Super Bowl after the 1967 season.
He played his final seasons alongside fellow Hall of Famers Gene Upshaw and Art Shell, forming a formidable offensive line.
“There was some intimidation,” Otto said. “Teams didn’t like to come to Oakland because of the fans and the football team.”
The Raiders, known for their hard-hitting style and notorious partying, would often adhere to a strict schedule. “No matter what happened the night before, they were all at practice the next morning,” Otto recalled.
Born on January 5, 1938, in Wausau, Wisconsin, Otto grew up in poverty, at one point living in a chicken coop with his family.
He later played college football at the University of Miami, excelling at center and linebacker.
Undrafted by the NFL in 1959, he joined the Raiders in the AFL the following year and was one of only 20 players to play in the AFL for its entire 10-year existence.
Otto most recently served as the Raiders’ director of special projects, organizing reunions for former players, events for fans, and making public appearances for the team.
He played a key role in the team’s move back to Oakland from Los Angeles before the 1995 season, though the Raiders relocated to Las Vegas in 2020.
Jim Otto is survived by his wife Sally, his son Jim Jr. and daughter-in-law Leah, and his 14 grandchildren.
