Hall Of Famer Raiders Center Jim Otto Dead At 86

Pro Football Hall of Fame center Jim Otto has died at the age of 86, the Las Vegas Raiders announced in a post shared late Sunday (May 19) night.

Otto famously wore No. 00 while anchoring the Raiders' offensive line for 15 seasons and was called "The Original Raider" in the team's tribute post, having joined the then-Oakland Raiders during their inaugural American Football League season in 1960 10 years prior to the league's merger with the NFL.

"The Raiders Family is in deep mourning following the passing of Jim Otto. The Original Raider. The personification of consistency," the team wrote. "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 80s, and his ferocious work ethic and talent enabled him to start a remarkable 20 consecutive league games for the Oakland Raiders."

Otto's cause of death was not revealed in the Raiders' announcement. The former University of Miami standout was a member of the Raiders' AFL championship team in 1967, having lost to the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl II.

Otto was a nine-time first-team All-AFL selection, a first-team NFL All-Pro in 1970, a second-team NFL All-Pro in 1972, a second-team All-AFL selection in 1966, a nine-time AFL All-Star and a three-time Pro Bowler, as well as a member of the NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team and AFL All-Time Team.