Former Oakland Raiders Pro Bowl center Barret Robbins dies at age 52

Former Oakland Raiders center Barret Robbins has died at the age of 52, according to an announcement by his former teammate Tim Brown on X on August 15, 2024.[1][2] The cause of death has not been publicly disclosed.

Brown, a Hall of Fame wide receiver who played with Robbins on the Raiders from 1995 to 2002, wrote: "It’s with great regret I tell you I just received a call from Marissa Robbins informing me that Raiders All-Pro center Barret Robbins passed away overnight. Thankfully, he passed peacefully in his sleep."[1] He added: "Please pray for their girls, his family and tons of teammates who will be affected by this!"

The Raiders issued a statement on August 15 confirming the news: "The Raiders Family is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Barret Robbins. 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, earning first-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors in 2002. He played in 121 career games with 105 starts, all with the Silver and Black."[3]

Robbins, selected 45th overall in the 1995 NFL Draft, spent his entire nine-year career with the Raiders from 1995 to 2003.[4] A native of Houston, Texas, he started 105 of 121 regular-season games and was recognized as a first-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl selection in 2002 after starting all 16 games.[3][4]

Prior to Super Bowl XXXVII on January 26, 2003, Robbins went missing for about 36 hours, returning incoherent and unable to play in the Raiders' 48-21 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego.[2][4] He later attributed the incident to not taking medication for bipolar disorder and depression.

In 2003, Robbins appeared in nine games before the Raiders released him in March 2004 following a violation of the NFL's substance abuse policy.[2][4] After retiring, Robbins faced several legal issues, including a 2005 incident in Miami Beach where he was shot by police during an investigation into a reported assault and a 2011 prison sentence for a probation violation related to drug charges.[2]