Jim Otto death: Raiders' Hall of Fame center dies at 86, cause of death unknown
Jim Otto is dead. On Sunday, former Oakland Raiders linebacker Phil Villapiano announced on social media that the Hall-of-Fame center breathed his last at the age of 86 because of unknown causes.
The four-time Pro Bowler tweeted this statement:
"Rest In Peace to the first ever draft pick of the Oakland Raiders, #JimOtto. Jim became the face of the Oakland Raiders. HIS attitude became the attitude of the Raiders. He was our leader. The result was the team that we all know and love. RIP Pops."
After a stellar collegiate career at Miami (FL), Otto was drafted by the Raiders in 1960.
Despite standing only six-foot-two and 210 lbs., he slowly worked his way up the ranks to become the team's starting center. He would hold that position until 1974 despite injuries, never missing 210 straight games and starting all of them.
He made six AFL/AFC Championship Games but won only one of them - in 1967-68, eventually losing Super Bowl II to the Green Bay Packers. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1980.
Jim Otto’s injuries and medical complications, explained
There was much praise about Jim Otto’s talents as a football player, with his head coach, future fellow Hall of Famer John Madden saying:
"His skills as a center were just perfect. He was one of those guys who never wanted to come out of practice. That’s the opposite of most starters, who will say, 'Send in the second guy.'"
But as mentioned earlier, injuries also defined much of his career. Throughout his life, he needed 74 operations, 28 of them to his knee. He also eventually contracted arthritis, as well as neck and back problems.
In his autobiography The Pain of Glory, Otto describes almost dying after his medical procedures, including three infections stemming from his arthritis. At one point, he was missing his right knee joint because an infection had to heal before it could be replaced.
The greatest price came in 2007, when he had to have his lower right leg amputated. Recalling the rehab process to SFGate, he said:
"It was like having early Alzheimer's."
But he reiterated multiple times that he had no regrets over how his career went.
Otto is survived by his wife Sally, son Jim, Jr. daughter-in-law Leah, and 14 grandchildren.