NFL HOF Spotlight: Curtis Martin

New York Jets running back Curtis Martin. Photo credit: LENNY IGNELZI/Associated Press

This NFL Hall of Fame spotlight focuses on the lightning-quick running back Curtis Martin. He was one of the easiest players to block for; one blink, and he’s completely out of sight, weaving his way to another big gain. Martin played with the New England Patriots for his first three seasons before moving to the New York Jets, where he spent most of his professional career.

Let’s go headlong into what made Martin an NFL treasure.

From the Hood to the Gridiron

Martin was born on May 1, 1973, to a humble family in Pittsburgh. With his father choosing drugs and alcohol over him, Martin had a tough start to life. Then came high school football to the rescue. It provided a path for him to escape the streets and focus on a brighter future.

By the end of high school, his performances had drawn much attention but he chose to stay close to home by playing for the University of Pittsburgh. Injuries cut short what would have been, but Martin made his statement on the turf every time he was fit.

In the 1995 NFL Draft, the Patriots selected him in the third round.

Photo Credit: RVR Photos/USA Today Sports

Professional Football Career

There were concerns about Martin and his continuous injury problems. But there were no doubts in anyone’s mind about how good this guy was. In his rookie season, he beat the injuries, and put up his raw talent on display.

Martin was fast—really fast. He was a master at avoiding big hits. On his debut, he ran for 30 yards on his first carry. He finished that game with 102 yards, becoming the first Patriots player to rush for 100 yards on his professional debut.

Rushing for above 100 yards became a norm for Martin. Game after game, he showed a high level of consistency. At the end of the season, it was just right to name him the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.

In his following two seasons with the Patriots, he never stopped showing how class he was on offense. He made two Pro Bowl selections as a Patriots player before the New England side lost him to free agency.

Photo Credit: Stephen Dunn/Getty Images 

New York Jets

The Jets used a “poison pill” clause to secure Martin’s services. The whole idea of the clause was to keep Martin far beyond the Patriots’ reach, except, of course, they were willing to compromise their salary cap. It was a bold move but when you resort to such tactics, it has to be for a truly exceptional player—and Martin was beyond exceptional. Martin proved himself durable for the Jets. He only missed one game in his first seven seasons.

But he wasn’t just available for selection, he was a consistent performer. In his second season for the Jets, he made his first Second-team All-Pro.

In a Monday Night game against his former side in 1999, Martin controlled the running game. The Patriots were well aware of what he could do and tried to stack the runs. But, Martin still managed to rush for an impressive 149 yards. He consistently broke through their defense with medium-sized gains of 7-8 yards per carry.

All through Martin’s time in New York, it was the same story. He was the bright spot for the Jets. With him on the team, they could dream a little.

Photo Credit: Al Bello/Getty Images

Reserved But Lethal

One special thing about Martin was his reserved nature. He was a quiet man. You never see him on the screens so much. Even in the dressing room, he was never much of a talker.

But on the gridiron, he spoke the loudest. In an interview, an opponent, Darrell Russell, had this to say about him:

“He’s just as dangerous as any running back in the league,” said the former Oakland Raiders defensive tackle. “He’s got deceptive quickness and he’s very strong. The thing is, you don’t hear much about him, and I think that’s the best compliment you can give a player. He’s steady. He brings his lunch box with him and he’s going to punch his card, go to work, do his job well, and then punch out.”

Clearly, Martin had only one focus: bringing his A-game—and he did so week-in-week-out.

Martin also wasn’t a flashy player. But flashy doesn’t win games. For him, it was always about doing his job on the field of play and doing it incredibly well.

The 2004 season was perhaps the climax of Martin’s career. He recorded a career-high 1,697 rushing yards and 412 touches from scrimmage. That season, as with every other one he played, he demonstrated his excellent work ethic and production.

He finished the 2004 season as the league’s rushing leader winning the NFL rushing title. He also made the AP First-team All-Pro that year.

Martin entered his final season as the active leader in career rushing yards, following Emmitt Smith‘s retirement. He suffered an injury to his right knee in just the second game of the season. He managed to continue playing with the pain until it became severe.

The knee problem eventually went beyond being a season-ending injury to a career-ending one. But he ended on a high as he had accumulated 14,101 rushing yards, averaging four yards per carry.

Photo Credit: Rick Stewart/Getty Images 

Career Accolades

On and off the field, Martin was an inspiration to many. In 2006, he received the Bart Starr Award for his outstanding character and leadership in the home, on the field, and in the community. He got into the PFWA All-Rookie Team of 1995 and was named the Offensive Rookie of the Year.

Martin made Pro Bowl selections five times. He got into the Second-team All-Pro twice and the AP First-team All-Pro once. Despite spending only three seasons with the Pats, they named him to the New England Patriots All-1990s Team.

All through his 11 seasons in the NFL, Martin led his team in rushing. He is currently sixth on the NFL all-time rushing leaders chart.

Martin was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2012.

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