Barret Robbins
Getty
Former Raiders All-Pro offensive lineman Barret Robbins has died at the age of 52
The Las Vegas Raiders have been hard at work rebuilding their roster this offseason. After hiring Klint Kubiak to be their new head coach, the Raiders made several aggressive moves in free agency, with the biggest of the bunch seeing them land star center Tyler Linderbaum to come in and anchor their offensive line.
For a point in time, back when the Raiders played in Oakland, Barret Robbins was the anchor of the team’s o-line at the center position. Unfortunately, on Friday, Las Vegas issued some crushing news on Robbins, as it revealed that he had died at the age of 52, with the team and its fans quickly going into mourning over his passing.
Barret Robbins Passes Away at 52 Years Old
The Raiders selected Robbins in the second round of the 1995 NFL Draft, but he didn’t start for them right away. Instead, he served in a reserve role as a rookie before eventually earning the starting job in 1996, which is a gig he would hold onto for the remainder of his career. While his performance waned at times, Robbins was a steady piece of Oakland’s offensive line.
Robbins suited up in just two games in 2001, but he returned and played in all 16 games in 2002, which was without a doubt the best season of his career. Robbins earned Pro Bowl and All-Pro First Team honors for his play, both of which were the only selections of his career. And yet, Robbins would play in just nine more games in 2003 before he ultimately ended up retiring.
Robbins’ post-playing career was marred by legal issues, but over the past few years, he had largely managed to stay out of trouble. After one of his former teammates, wide receiver Tim Brown, shared the news of his passing in a post on X early Friday morning, the Raiders confirmed their former player’s passing.
“The Raiders Family is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Barret Robbins,” the team said as part of its statement, which was posted on X. “Oakland’s second-round draft pick out of TCU in 1995, he was among the league’s top centers over nine seasons with the Raiders … The thoughts and condolences of the entire Raider Nation are with Barret’s family and friends during this difficult time.”
Raiders Mourn the Death of Barret Robbins
Barret Robbins
GettyFormer Raiders All-Pro offensive lineman Barret Robbins has died at the age of 52
No cause of death was immediately given for Robbins’ passing, but that doesn’t change the fact that his death is tragic. The Raiders community is undoubtedly mourning his loss, and there’s no doubt that his play in 2002, which is widely regarded as one of the best individual seasons from an offensive lineman in the team’s storied history, will always ensure his legacy remains intact.
As for this current Las Vegas team, it is hoping that Linderbaum can come close to playing at the sort of level Robbins was at during the peak of his powers. The Raiders still have quite a few holes on their roster that need to be addressed, but they have taken several steps in the right direction this offseason, with another one set to come when the team makes the first overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.