What Happened to Douglas Martin?

Douglas Martin, born on January 13, 1989, rose to prominence as a standout running back for the Boise State Broncos before being drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft. He quickly made an impact, setting franchise rookie records for rushing yards (1,454) and touchdowns (11) in his inaugural 2012 season, earning him a Pro Bowl selection. His powerful running style and compact build earned him the nickname 'Muscle Hamster.' After a dip in performance, Martin had a resurgent 2015 season, rushing for 1,402 yards and six touchdowns, again earning Pro Bowl and First-Team All-Pro honors.

However, Martin's career began to face challenges. In December 2016, he was suspended four games for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy, admitting to testing positive for Adderall and entering a treatment facility. He was released by the Buccaneers in 2018 and played his final NFL season with the Oakland Raiders in 2018, before retiring from professional football.

Following his NFL career, Martin reportedly struggled with mental health challenges and substance use disorder. In August 2025, he was placed on an involuntary psychiatric hold after an altercation at a rehab center. These struggles culminated in a tragic incident on October 18, 2025. Oakland police responded to reports of a break-in at a neighbor's home, where Martin, described by his family as disoriented and experiencing a mental health crisis, had fled after his mother called paramedics for help. During an attempt to detain him, a struggle occurred, and Martin became unresponsive in police custody. He was transported to a hospital where he was pronounced dead at the age of 36.

In the aftermath of his death, Martin's family commissioned an independent autopsy and sent his brain to Boston University's CTE Center for examination, though results for CTE were still pending as of June 2026. On June 25, 2026, Martin's family filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the City of Oakland, five Oakland police officers, and Falck Northern California, a paramedic company. The lawsuit alleges that Martin died of 'restraint asphyxia' after officers pinned him face down and applied pressure to his back, and that paramedics failed to provide timely medical care, arriving more than 15 minutes after being called and not promptly intervening. The family's attorney, John Burris, stated that while the lawsuit seeks monetary damages, the primary goal is to clarify the events leading to Martin's death.