- Rod Martin
NFL player
Color=black
fontcolor=silver
DateOfBirth=birth date|1954|4|7|mf=y
Birthplace=Welch, West Virginia
Position=Linebacker
College=USC
DraftedYear=1977
DraftedRound=12 / Pick 317
Stats=Y
DatabaseFootball=MARTIROD01
PFR=MartRo00
years=1977-1988
teams=Oakland Raiders
ProBowls=2Rod Martin (born
April 7 ,1954 inWelch, West Virginia ) is a retiredNational Football League linebacker who played for the Los Angeles andOakland Raiders from 1977 to 1988.College career
Before his NFL career, Martin played college football at the
University of Southern California where he was a 1976 All-Pac 10 graduate. Prior to USC, Martin played atLos Angeles City College .High School career
Martin went to Hamilton High School, where
Warren Moon went.Professional career
Martin was one of the top linebackers in the NFL during his 12 seasons, assisting the Raiders to 2 Super Bowl victories (1980, 1983) and having an outstanding performance in each one. In
Super Bowl XV , Martin recorded a Super Bowl record 3 interceptions fromPhiladelphia Eagles quarterbackRon Jaworski , and returned them for 44 yards. His 3 interceptions were not only a Super Bowl record, but they also tied linebackerChuck Howley 's record for career Super Bowl interceptions (later defensive back Larry Brown tied this record as well). Among these players, Martin is the only one to record all 3 of his interceptions in one game. InSuper Bowl XVIII , Martin broke up a third down pass on his own 7-yard line in the second quarter, tackledWashington Redskins hall of fame running backJohn Riggins for no gain on a fourth down and one conversion attempt deep in Raiders territory on the last play of the third quarter, and recovered a fumble in the final period.In his 12 NFL seasons, Martin recorded 14 interceptions, which he returned for 224 yards and 4 touchdowns, along with 10 fumble recoveries, which he returned for 122 yards and 2 touchdowns. He also recorded 33 official sacks (sacks were not an official statistic until 1982, Martin's 5th season). Martin made the
Pro Bowl twice during his career, in 1983 and 1984.Personal
Martin has returned to work at USC, where he is a programmer and manager of technical and user support services in the
Information Sciences Institute .External links
* [http://usclegends.org/rod-martin.php Rod Martin] Profile at USC Legends
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
