Former TCU and Las Vegas Raiders center Barret Robbins passed away Thursday at the age of 52.
Barret Robbins, a former TCU Horned Frogs and nine-year NFL veteran center, passed away Thursday at the age of 52.
The Las Vegas Raiders confirmed the passing of Robbins in a statement on its social media Friday. Robbins spent his entire professional career with the Raiders, specifically when the franchise was based in Oakland.
During this tenure from 1995-2003, he was a staple of a Raiders squad that made several trips to the NFL Playoffs.
Robbins' best season happened to coincide with the team, as he was a First-Team All-Pro and Pro Bowl selection in 2002. That same year, he helped the Silver and Black return to the league's biggest stage in Super Bowl XXXVII.
While his presence was a big factor in Oakland making the title game, an off-the-field issue on the eve of the Super Bowl caused Robbins to be sidelined in a 48-21 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Robbins was reportedly battling depression during this incident and struggled with mental health throughout his career.
Despite the lows of the Super Bowl loss and personal battles, Robbins stayed strong and suited up for the Raiders for one final season before retiring from football.
Over the course of nine seasons, Robbins played in 121 career NFL games and got the start in 105 of them.
Before all the success of the NFL, Robbins got his start at TCU. The Horned Frogs were members of the ill-fated Southwest Conference while Robbins donned the Purple and White. He helped the team capture the league's penultimate championship in 1994.
In this championship season, Robbins was a First-Team All-SWC honoree. Robbins' success while in Fort Worth helped draw attention from the NFL, which led to a second-round selection in the 1995 NFL Draft by the Raiders.
As a force at both the college and professional levels, Robbins will be remembered as one of the most-talented centers of the 1990s and 2000s.
It is unknown what led to Robbins' unfortunate passing, but his memory as a Horned Frog and a Raider are sure to live on through his numerous accolades and accomplishments.
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