Doug Martin, the former Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back, died Saturday while in Oakland Police Department custody, his family said.
The family released a statement Monday night that explained events and revealed that Doug had been struggling privately with mental‑health challenges for some time. “Mental illness was one opponent he could not outrun,” the statement said, released through his agent Brian Murphy.
Martin was 36 when he died. He left college football at Boise State, where he rushed for over 3,400 yards and 43 touchdowns, before being drafted in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft by the Buccaneers. In his NFL career he logged more than 5,300 rushing yards and 30 touchdowns across six seasons in Tampa Bay and one season with the Raiders.
According to the family, Doug’s parents had been seeking medical help and had called local authorities for support. Feeling overwhelmed and disoriented, Doug left his home late that night and broke into a neighbor’s home 26 feet away. Police arrested him there and took him into custody. An investigation is underway into the events that occurred while he was detained.
Oakland Police reported that officers made an attempt to detain Martin, which led to a brief struggle. “After being taken into custody, Martin became unresponsive,” the department said. “Paramedics responded, provided medical aid, and transported him to a hospital, where he later died.”
Multiple investigators are involved in the case. The Oakland Police Department’s Homicide Section, Internal Affairs Bureau, the City Police Commission, the Community Police Review Agency, and the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office are all looking into the in‑custody death, in accordance with department policy.
The death has prompted a wider discussion about mental‑health support for former athletes. Doug’s legacy remains as a standout player in Tampa Bay and a reminder of the pressures faced by players on and off the field.
Source: New York Post
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