With a heavy heart, NFL and AFL fans bid goodbye to the legendary Raiders Center and Pro Football Hall of Famer Jim Otto, who passed away on May 19, 2024. Jim Otto is survived by his wife, Sally, and his grandchildren.
Sally has been by the side of Jim Otto for 62 years since they married on August 1, 1962, when Otto was 24 years old.
Jim Otto once mentioned in an interview with Eastern Bay Times in 2007 that his family was not well-off, and he had a taste of poverty in his early days.
#WayBackWednesdays #Raiders Jim Otto with his wife Sally. pic.twitter.com/5Dl0EYwkdh
— AFL Godfather 🏴☠️👓🏈🔥 (@NFLMAVERICK) April 26, 2018
He was one of his parents’ five children and had to wear used clothes, but he did not want the same for his children, Jennifer and Jimmy.
Thus, he devoted himself for 15 years to football, which eventually led to career-ending injuries. Yet, Jim Otto fought through that alongside his wife and used to say, “I’m thankful to be alive.”
However, his hardships came to an end eventually at the age of 86.
Jim Otto had a total of 74 surgeries, while his wife Sally survived the rare artery disease
The legendary couples have their share of stories about the physical tolls they took, with Sally being on the major sacrificing side.
Jim Otto says, “Through all the perils of our life, Sally has always been strong.” He was always thankful to his wife, who was strong enough to handle the loss of their daughter at 39 to Otto’s infection in 1998.
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 pic.twitter.com/qp9nUyx8W0
— VILLAPIANO (@Villapiano41) May 20, 2024
Sally and Otto’s daughter Jennifer passed away in 1997 due to a blood clot leading to cardiac arrest. This was a shock for Jim Otto, and according to his doctor, it was a reason for his weak immune system.
Eventually, it triggered his health issues; he had to suffer from three life-threatening infections, undergo over 74 surgeries, and had his right leg amputated on August 1, 2007, the day of their 45th wedding anniversary.
The story of Jim Otto was an open book to all, but what surprised all was that Sally had also suffered foot difficulties. She was a patient with an artery disease in the early 2000s.
Among six patients suffering from the same disease at UC Davis, Sally was the only one to survive. During that time, Otto took care of her.
#Raiders Alumni 🏴☠️🏈🖤🍷….
— AFL Godfather 🏴☠️👓🏈🔥 (@NFLMAVERICK) August 2, 2019
C Jim Otto with his wife Sally and HC Jon Gruden pic.twitter.com/i32cQFrD8n
However, Sally was the ultimate caretaker, standing by her husband’s side through thick and thin. In recent years, when Jim Otto was bound to a wheelchair, Sally was there to care for him.
Now, the Otto family reminisces about Jim Otto, a devoted father, husband, and grandfather who said he had no regrets in his life.
He is survived by his wife, son Jimmy, daughter-in-law Leah, and 14 grandchildren Alice, Sarah, Amy, Amanda, Josiah, Hannah, Jeremiah, Isaiah, Jennifer, Avery, Noah, Aiden, Roman, and Ellie.
We at The Superslice pray for the better passing of Otto’s soul to paradise. May god give strength to his family.
Additional Information
- Jim Otto’s real name was James Edwin Otto. He was born on January 5, 1938, in Wausau, Wisconsin.
- He was among the only 20 players to have played in the entire ten-year existence of AFL and among the three players to play on all of his team’s games in AFL.
- Jim Otto got Pro Football Hall Of Fame induction in 1980.
- No news has mentioned the real cause of the death of Jim Otto.
