“RIP to a Class Act”: Raiders 1st Draft Pick’s Tragic Death Leaves NFL World Devastated as Jim Otto Passes Away, Aged 86

Jim Otto known as “Mr. Raider” has passed away at the age of 86. The news was confirmed Sunday night by the team for which Otto played with durability and zeal despite facing hurdles in the form of injuries. His legacy witnessed the veteran take on his opponent for 15 seasons to numerous divisional victories and even the 967 AFL title for the squad.

The former Raiders linebacker star Phil Villapiano shared the news on X.  He wrote, “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. @Raiders #RaiderNation.”

However, the former LB was joined by Vic Tafur who highlighted more about Otto’s long-lived legendary NFL career. Tafur’s post put into perspective just how important the center was to the Raiders franchise. Tafur re-shared Villapiano’s post and wrote, “The story of the Raiders can’t be told without Jim Otto. The undersized Otto pushed and led the franchise by example, leaving a trail of sweat and tears. He started 210 straight games at center and the Raiders won 7 divisional championships and an AFL title. RIP to a class act.”

Otto not only led the Oakland team by example but also with his blood, sweat, and tears. The Raiders HOF Phil Villapiano recalled Otto’s unparalleled dedication and love for football. “I watched him bleed,” said Villapiano and added, “I mean, every f*cking game. Whatever helmet he had on certainly didn’t work, because it would come down and smash on top of his nose. He’d be bleeding every single game. And players on the other team would be like, ‘What the f*ck is with this guy?!”

The HOF LB still sees Otto as a person who “out-toughed everybody.” He admitted this in an interview 3 years ago. As the Raiders nation in particular and the NFL realm, in general, suffer this heart-rending loss, fans, professionals, and experts came forth to share their heartfelt message and tribute to the legend.

NFL world joins in on mourning the loss of legendary Jim Otto

Initially, it was the Raiders’ official X handle that shared a heartfelt message for the iconic player. Commending his prowess on the field, they wrote, “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.”

Joining the grieving was none other than the current star defensive end Maxx Crosby. Applauding Otto’s on-field expertise and the off-field persona, he wrote, “Rip Jim Otto. Absolute Legend & Incredible Person.”

Adding to the sentiment were analysts Dov Kleiman and Adam Schefter. Keliman acknowledged the greatness brought forth by Otto in the world of football. After all, he never missed a game in 15 years with the Raiders, despite undergoing 29 knee surgeries and over 75 surgeries in total. Meanwhile, Schefter addressed the legend for his iconic No. 00 jersey.

Fans also joined to celebrate Otto’s excellence. A user named Buck Johnson shared a photo of him with Jim Otto. The photo showed the two greeting each other as Johnson commented, “Such a cool guy,” in solidarity with the original post.

Another fan shared, “RIP to the Legend!” His legendary style of playing helped him get selected for the Pro Bowl in each of the first three years after the AFL-NFL merger. Over the years Otto changed the shape of how centers are perceived in the league. In Villapiano’s own words, Jim Otto demanded perfection from everyone. His legacy, love for the game, and impact on football will be forever remembered.