Curtis Martin Biography

Curtis James Martin Jr. born on May 1, 1973, played 11 seasons in the NFL as a running back for the New England Patriots and New York Jets. He was selected by the Patriots in the third round of the 1995 NFL draft and named NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. Martin demonstrated natural athletic ability, which was recognized by former head coach Mark Wittgartner during his high school football career. His standout performance at Allderdice High School drew attention from University of Pittsburgh football coach Paul Hackett. In 1994, Martin rushed for a career-high 251 yards in a game against Texas before being sidelined by a sprained ankle the following week. Martin signed with the Patriots on July 19, 1995, and made his NFL debut in their season opener against the Cleveland Browns. After the 1997 season, Martin became a restricted free agent.