Former Oakland Raiders Star Barret Robbins Dies at 52

Robbins went missing before Super Bowl XXXVII in 2003.

Mar. 31, 2026 at 4:56pm

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A fragmented, cubist-style painting depicting the silhouette of a football player broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in muted navy, charcoal, and steel grey tones, conceptually representing the complex mental health struggles of professional athletes.The tragic story of Barret Robbins highlights the mental health challenges many professional athletes face, both during and after their careers.Oakland Today

Barret Robbins, the former Oakland Raiders center who famously went missing ahead of Super Bowl XXXVII in 2003, has died at the age of 52. Robbins had struggled with mental health issues for years following his NFL career.

Why it matters

Robbins' story highlighted the challenges many professional athletes face with mental health and the need for better support systems. His disappearance before the Super Bowl was a major controversy at the time, and his death now serves as a somber reminder of the lasting impact these issues can have.

The details

Robbins, who played for the Raiders from 1995 to 2002, missed the team's walkthrough the day before the 2003 Super Bowl after going AWOL. He was later found disoriented and was not allowed to play in the game. Robbins said he had been dealing with bipolar disorder, and his mental health struggles continued after his NFL career ended.

  • Robbins played for the Oakland Raiders from 1995 to 2002.
  • Robbins went missing the day before Super Bowl XXXVII in 2003.
  • Robbins died on March 31, 2026 at the age of 52.

The players

Barret Robbins

A former center who played for the Oakland Raiders from 1995 to 2002. Robbins famously went missing the day before Super Bowl XXXVII in 2003 and struggled with mental health issues after his NFL career.

Oakland Raiders

The NFL team Robbins played for from 1995 to 2002, including their appearance in Super Bowl XXXVII.

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The takeaway

Robbins' tragic story underscores the importance of providing better mental health support and resources for professional athletes, both during and after their careers. His death is a somber reminder that the challenges of being a high-profile athlete can have lasting impacts on one's wellbeing.