Former NFL running back Doug Martin has died at 36. He first came to public acclaim for his Hall-of-Fame career as a linebacker for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He went to war against police in East Oakland when cops arrested him for a residential robbery. This confrontation resulted in his untimely death, but sparked a movement. The Alameda County coroner’s office has not formally released his name or cause of death.
Martin’s success led him to be chosen first-round No. 31 overall in the 2012 NFL Draft. He proved to be an immediate game-changer for the league. His rookie season was even more memorable, as he rushed for 1,454 yards and 11 touchdowns. This incredible performance landed him a spot on both the Pro Bowl and NFL All-Rookie Team.
In his six seasons with the Buccaneers, Martin all but cemented himself as one of the Peg legs franchise all-time greats. He finished with 4,633 rushing yards, which ranks fourth on Tampa Bay’s all-time rushing yards leaderboard. Not only did he accrue remarkable yardage numbers, but in 325 career games with the team, he rushed for 26 touchdowns.
Martin’s perfection didn’t stop in the prime of his career. In 2015 he was a second-time Pro Bowler. That season he led the league with over 1,400 yards rushing and was named first-team All-Pro. He never had a drop off during his pro career as he rushed for over 400 yards every year.
In 2018, Martin ended his NFL career tattooed by the rapid but brilliant imprint at Oakland Raiders. There, he made strong impact proving himself to be one of the best talents around. Prior to coming to the NFL, he was a star at Boise State. In that time, between 2007 and 2011, he ran for 3,431 yards.
Sadly, Martin’s life was cut short unexpectedly this past spring. He recently found himself in a short tussle with police during their response to a reported residential burglary. His family shared the news of his death with this touching statement.
“It is with great sadness to inform you all that Doug Martin passed away Saturday morning. Cause of death is currently unconfirmed. Please respect our privacy at this time.” – Doug Martin’s family
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers released a statement mourning Martin’s sudden passing.
“We are deeply saddened to learn of the sudden and unexpected passing of Doug Martin. From his record-setting rookie season in 2012 to his multiple Pro Bowl selections during his six seasons as a Buccaneer, Doug made a lasting impact on our franchise.” – Tampa Bay Buccaneers