“The Raider family was saddened to learn of the recent passing of Doug Martin,” the team, which relocated to Las Vegas after the 2019 season, said on social media. “Martin joined the Silver and Black in 2018 … and he led the Raiders with 723 rushing yards that season. The condolences of the entire Raider Nation are with Doug’s family at this time.”
Martin was born in Oakland and raised in Stockton, where he became a surprising star of the St. Mary’s High School football program.
Tony Franks, who coached him throughout his high school career, said the news of Martin’s death was “shocking.”
“This is really a difficult situation and a tragic loss,” he told KQED. “We need to look after one another. Sometimes people might be going through some challenges and we have to be aware of that and reach out and take care of folks.”
Franks described Martin, who arrived at St. Mary’s hoping to be a basketball player, as grateful, humble and hardworking.
“[He was] just a terrific young man to be around, had a smile that would light up a room,” Franks said.
He told KQED that future football players at the school were inspired by Martin, who came to St. Mary’s without any football experience and was convinced by then-Athletic Director Jim Brusa to try out for the team.
“It’s a story of arriving thinking you’re one thing and then discovering maybe you’re something else, and that’s kind of what high school is all about,” he said. “It was inspiring … and it was just all very exciting for our community.”
After graduating from St. Mary’s in 2007, Martin played four seasons at Boise State University as one of the school’s best running backs to date. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2012 and spent six seasons with the team before returning to the Bay Area for a one-year contract with the Raiders in 2018.
“We are deeply saddened to learn of the sudden and unexpected passing of Doug Martin,” the Bucs wrote on social media on Sunday. “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.”
On the Buccaneers, Martin was a finalist for offensive rookie of the year during his first season and played in two Pro Bowl games. But he also weathered some rocky seasons throughout his career.
He spent most of the 2013 season on injured reserve, and was suspended for four games in 2016 after testing positive for Adderall in violation of the NFL’s performance-enhancing drug policy. He was released by the Bucs in 2018 after struggling to come back from the suspension, which extended into the start of the 2017 season.
That year, he was signed by the Raiders and ran for his third-highest total rushing yards after stepping into the starting lineup following an injury to Marshawn Lynch.
He resigned with the Raiders for the 2019 season but was placed on injured reserve and released with an injury settlement prior to the start of the regular season.
KQED’s Sara Hossaini contributed to this report.