Statement details ‘mental health’ struggles for late BSU star Doug Martin
The sports agency representing former Boise State and NFL player Doug Martin released a statement on Monday night providing details the family wanted released about the lead-up to Martin’s death over the weekend.
Martin died while in police custody in Oakland after a home break-in in the early hours of Saturday morning. Police responded to a report of a possible burglary at an east Oakland residence and found Martin in the house, where he was detained after a “brief struggle.”
Martin became unresponsive after officers took him into custody, police said. He was provided care by paramedics before being taken to a local hospital, where he died, according to police.
The statement, provided by Martin’s agent and Athletes First CEO Brian Murphy, was issued on behalf of Martin’s family.
“Privately, Doug battled mental health challenges that profoundly impacted his personal and professional life,” the statement read. “Ultimately, mental illness proved to be the one opponent from which Doug could not run.”
The statement indicated that Martin’s family was “actively seeking medical assistance for him” and had contacted local authorities for support. Martin felt “overwhelmed and disoriented,” according to the statement, causing him to flee his home in the middle of the night and enter a neighbor’s residence, which was where police found him.
“An investigation into what transpired as he was detained is underway. The family requests privacy as they navigate this heartbreaking loss,” the statement concludes.
Martin played running back at Boise State from 2007 to 2011 and has been described as the “heart and soul” of Bronco teams that collectively went 50-3 during his time in Idaho.
Martin went on to play in the NFL for seven years, earning two Pro Bowl invites and 2015 First Team All-Pro honors while with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, before finishing his career after one season with his hometown team, the Oakland Raiders, in 2018.
