The Professional Football Hall of Fame made the call for Curtis Martin on Saturday making him the 29th modern-era running back to be elected to Canton,
Martin, a 3rd round pick by the New England Patriots in 1995 out of the University of Pittsburgh, spent his first three seasons with the Patriots. In 1995 he was the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and following the 1996 season he played in his lone Super Bowl, a Patriots loss to Green Bay in Super Bowl XXXI.
After playing for New England in 1997, he left as a free agent signing with the rival New York Jets, rejoining his former Patriots coach Bill Parcells in the Meadowlands. He was a restricted free agent and signed a six-year, $36 million contract, which New England declined to match.
In his first seven years in New York, he missed just one game allowing him to rush for 1,000 yards or more in each of his first 10 NFL seasons.
Martin finished his career with 14,101 rushing yards, fourth all-time and 90 TD’s. He was a 5-time Pro Bowl selection and a 5-time All-Pro. He is a recipient of the NFL’s Ed Block Courage Award, FedEx Ground Player of the Year, Bart Starr Man of the Year Award and is in the New York Jets Ring of Honor.
After saying many times, “don’t put him in the Hall of Fame just yet”, Bill Parcells, Martin’s former coach, will get to exactly that as he will present him for induction on August 4 in Canton OH. Others being inducted that day will be Jack Butler, Dermontti Dawson, Chris Doleman, Cortez Kennedy and Willie Roaf.
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Photo credit: NESN.com
