Otto accomplished an incredible milestone by playing 210 consecutive regular-season games to start and finish his incredible career. Before being inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1980, Otto was selected for 12 AFL All-Star/Pro Bowls and 10 All-Pro teams. Otto played a significant role in the Silver and Black’s inaugural championship victory in 1967, when the Raiders won the AFL Championship and advanced to Super Bowl II.

Otto was the quintessential offensive lineman, with his signature neckroll draped over his shoulders and the number zero painted over his chest. He was a leader for a young team that turned into a successful one, a dependable teammate who cleared the path for future Hall of Famers to achieve greatness, and he was tough as shoe leather.

Alongside a long list of other Hall of Famers, Otto formed one of the best interior offensive linemen in league history with guard Gene Upshaw. In addition, HoFers George Blanda, Willie Brown, Fred Biletnikoff, Art Shell, Bob Brown, Ken Stabler, and others were on the same roster as him.

When enshrining Jim Otto in 1980, late Raiders Hall of Fame owner Al Davis said of Otto, “Commitment to excellence, pride, and poise, the greatness of our football team were not only exemplified by Jim Otto, but for more than a decade he was the standard of excellence by which centers were judged in professional football.” In the annals of professional football, he was the most decorated offensive lineman ever. However, numbers don’t truly represent a man; rather, they are merely a measure of performance. Jim is already deserving of the title of great man if it is true that great individuals encourage others to aspire to be great.”

Otto, a Wisconsin native, was born on January 5, 1938. He continued his collegiate career as a linebacker and center at the University of Miami. The fact that he was not picked indicates that he was not a highly anticipated prospect. Nevertheless, Otto’s undrafted status would go on to make him an all-time great in the NFL, thus, it was the start of a fantastic underdog tale.

Otto’s territorial draft rights were allocated to the Minnesota Vikings of the American Football League, which was Otto’s initial destination. In a fortunate move that energized one of the most recognizable teams in sports during its infancy, Otto’s rights reverted to the Oakland Raiders when the Vikings contingent abandoned the AFL in favor of becoming an NFL franchise.

Otto was outstanding right away, making the AFL All-Star team during his first campaign.

Otto’s jersey number was the only thing that altered after that. Despite starting his career ranked No. 50, he became instantly recognizable as No. 00 during his debut season.

“Double O” was a player for the Raiders for fifteen seasons.

He was chosen for the All-AFL ten times, and every year the league was in existence, he was voted the best center. Otto was a pillar of support for the AFL, just as he was for the Raiders. He was one of just three players to participate in every AFL game for his team, along with wide receiver/kicker Gino Capelletti and Blanda.

The Raiders finished 6-8 in their first season of play. After winning in their fourth season, Otto and company went on to become archetypes of steady success. In Otto’s fifteen seasons, Oakland won seven division titles, all during his final eight years. Remarkably, throughout those eight seasons, future Hall of Famers Otto and Upshaw began every game together.

Otto had never missed a game, ever, toward the end of his career. His 10 first-team All-Pro selections are the most for an offensive lineman in NFL history, and his 210 starts continue to rank first in team history.

Otto’s physical toughness is renowned, but regrettably so was the physical price he endured.

Otto underwent almost 70 surgeries, and he wrote about several near-death experiences brought on by medical procedures in his autobiography, Jim Otto: The Pain of Glory. Otto had his right leg amputated in 2007.

“Football is football,” Otto declared in a Bleacher Report interview from 2009. It’s similar to being a gladiator: after you battle every guy in the ring, they turn the proverbial lion against you. I’ve always compared playing football to being a gladiator.

“You have an inner voice that says, ‘I want to go out there and prove my worth.'” You will almost certainly sustain injuries. You opt for that kind of existence. Some people play rugby or hockey because they need a challenge in their lives. Playing football allowed me to establish my worth.”

Throughout his career, Otto repeatedly demonstrated why he was the finest in his field.

There was just one guy who began at center for the Raiders from 1960 to 1974, and not many have played the position better afterward.