Former Boise State running back Doug Martin’s death occurred Saturday morning while he was in police custody in Oakland, California, the Oakland Police Department confirmed Monday after the Bay Area News Group reported it Sunday night.
Martin, who was 36, died in an Oakland hospital after having a “medical emergency” during an alleged home break-in that officers from the department were responding to.
“Prior to his death, Martin was involved in a break-in at a residence in Oakland,” Monday’s statement read. “While responding officers were attempting to detain him, a brief struggle occurred. After being taken into custody, Martin became unresponsive.
“Paramedics responded to the scene, provided medical aid, and transported Martin to a local hospital, where he later died.
“Since Saturday, OPD has been in contact with Martin’s family. The family has requested privacy as they grieve this tragic loss.
“No additional details are being released at this time, as this remains an ongoing investigation.”
Martin’s family confirmed his death Sunday via a statement reading, “It is with great sadness to inform you all that Doug Martin passed away Saturday morning. Cause of death is currently unconfirmed.”
The Oakland Police Department confirmed an in-custody death on Saturday, but at the time did not identify Martin. According to Saturday’s statement, the incident occurred just after 4:15 Saturday morning. While responding to the incident, officers received notification of an individual believed to be connected to the break-in having a medical emergency. The officers found the individual inside the house.
Officers involved in the incident have been placed on paid administrative leave, Oakland police said.
News of Martin’s death hit hard at Boise State, where he was a two-time first-team All-Conference selection during his career from 2007-11.
He was in the same recruiting class as quarterback Kellen Moore, which went 50-3 during its four years at Boise State.
“He was everything to that run,” said Boise State offensive coordinator Nate Potter, who was an All-American left tackle at Boise State during those years. “I know a lot of guys get a lot of credit for those teams, but Doug was the heart and soul of our offense. Just the way he ran the football, he’d catch the football, he protected, he did it all for us. He brought an energy, physicality and spark every time we stepped on the field.”
Boise State head coach Spencer Danielson, who arrived in Boise as a graduate assistant in 2017, said he got to meet Martin a couple of times, but learned even more about who he was during his weekly phone call with Chris Petersen on Sunday evening. He said he was surprised to find out Martin lined up on defense a few times as a freshman just because of how talented he was.
Danielson said Monday that the Broncos are planning on honoring Martin in some way during their game Friday at Nevada, perhaps with a helmet decal.
“He’s 36 years old, I’m 36,” Danielson said. “Life comes at you and I’m heartbroken for him and his family. Obviously, our team is mourning that loss because he’s a part of this brotherhood. We’re hurting for him and his family, so we’re going to honor him this game. We’re working through how to do that the right way because he absolutely deserves that and his family deserves that and he’s a part of this family forever.”
Martin’s 3,413 career rushing yards still rank eighth all-time in Boise State’s record books. He is also one of six Broncos to be selected in the first round of the NFL Draft, taken No. 31 overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 2012 draft. He went on to have a seven-year NFL career, six with Tampa Bay and his final season, in 2018, with the Oakland Raiders.
But more than his play, Potter remembered the positive attitude he brought to the team, be it through his dance skills, or the time in 2008 as a freshman, when he took Boise State’s hammer to midfield of the Kibbie Dome before a game against rival Idaho, and smashed it on the Vandals’ ‘I’ logo.
“He was always in good spirits, his energy was contagious, and he was by far the best dancer in that generation of Broncos. He proved it over and over again,” Potter said. “That’s just who he was. We’d be running 20 decks, and he’d be smiling. He had a huge smile on his face. We’d be in the middle of a four-minute drive and he’d have that smile. That’s just what he brought every day, that type of energy, and we kind of fed off of it.”