Former NFL Running Back Doug Martin Dies following Encounter with Police
Oakland, CA – Doug Martin, a former NFL โฃPro โBowl running back, โdied saturdayโ morning afterโ a struggle with policeโฃ at a residence in Oakland, โคauthorities confirmed monday.Martin, 35,โ originally from Oakland and a standout at Boise State, had beenโฃ privatelyโฃ battling โคmental health challenges, according to a statement released by his former agent, brian Murphy, at the requestโ of the Martin family.
Martin’s death has prompted investigations byโฃ theโฃ Oakland Police Department, the cityโข police commission, theโข community police review agency, and the county district attorney’s office. Oakland Mayor Barbaraโค Lee expressed condolences, notingโ Martin’s “distinguishedโฃ NFL career” and calling his passing a loss โfor theโฃ city. โ
According to Murphy’s statement, Martin’s parents had soughtโ medical help for their son and contacted local โขauthorities after he โขbecame overwhelmed and disoriented. He fled hisโข home and entered a neighbor’s residence two doors down,leading to police โฃintervention โขand his subsequent custody. “Ultimately, mental illness provedโ to beโค the one opponent from which Dougโ could โขnot run,”โค Murphy said.
Drafted 31st overall in the โ2012 NFL draft by โthe Tampa Bayโข Buccaneers, Martin quickly established himself as a โฃpremier runningโค back. He rushed for 1,454 yards and 11 touchdowns in hisโข rookie season, earning โขa Pro โBowl selection.He wasโ again named first-teamโ All-Pro โคand โselected โขto the Pro โBowl in 2015 โฃafterโฃ rushing for 1,402 โyards โฃand six touchdowns.
over six seasons with the Buccaneers and โone with theโข Raiders, Martin amassed 5,356 rushing yards andโ 30โข touchdowns. Heโ also recorded 148 receptions for 1,207 yards and two scores.The Buccaneers released a statement expressing their sadnessโฃ atโ his passing, โขacknowledging his “lasting impact” on the franchise and his selection as โone of the team’s top โ50 players in its 50th-anniversary celebration.