Ex-Raiders lineman who famously missed Super Bowl dies

Adam Hill, Las Vegas Review-Journal on Mar 27, 2026

Published in Football

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Barret Robbins, a former first-team All-Pro center with the Raiders, has died, the team announced Friday. He was 52.

“Thankfully, he passed away peacefully in his sleep,” former teammate Tim Brown posted on social media. “Please pray for (his daughters), his family and tons of teammates who will be affected by this.”

Robbins might be most remembered for disappearing from the team hotel the night before the Raiders played the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 2003 Super Bowl in San Diego. It was later reported he had crossed the border from San Diego into Tijuana, Mexico, and spent a day partying under the belief that the Raiders had already played in and won the game.

The former TCU standout had not taken his depression medication and was incoherent upon his return, also lacking his wallet and identification.

An All-Pro and Pro Bowl player that season, Robbins was suspended for the game, which the Raiders lost 48-21. He entered rehab and was later diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

He played for the Raiders the next season, but was released a year later after he was revealed as part of the BALCO lab steroid scandal.

Robbins, a Houston native, spent all nine seasons of his NFL career in Oakland after the Raiders selected him in the second round of the 1995 draft.

He had a series of run-ins with the law after his playing career.

“It’s unfortunate that his life was never the same after he was not allowed to play in the Super Bowl,” Brown wrote.

Robbins started 105 of the 121 games he played in his pro career.

“The thoughts and condolences of the entire Raider Nation are with Barret’s family and friends during this difficult time,” the team said in a statement.

“RIP my brother!” Rich Gannon, Robbins’ teammate at quarterback, posted on social media.

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