Professional Football Player. For fourteen seasons (1950 to 1961 and 1963 to 1964), he played at the guard, linebacker and kicker positions in the National Football League with the Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions, Baltimore Colts and Washington Redskins. Born James Richard Martin, he attended East Tech High School in Ohio, where he excelled at football and swimming. During World War II, he served with the Fifth Amphibious Reconnaissance Battalion with the United States Marine Corps and from his experience, he was awarded a Bronze Star. Upon his return home, he enrolled at the University of Notre Dame and served as co-captain of the 1949 Fighting Irish team which captured a national championship. Selected by the Cleveland Browns during the 2nd round of the 1950 NFL Draft, he totaled 166 career regular season games. He experienced a world championship with Cleveland in 1950 and would go on to contribute to three more NFL Title teams (1952, 1953 and 1957 Detroit Lions). He distinguished himself, when he achieved Pro-Bowl honors in 1961. He briefly retired as a player in 1962, when he served as an assistant coach with the Denver Broncos. He resumed his playing career in 1963 and led the league with 24 field-goals made. He went on to serve as a coach on the high school and collegiate levels. He returned to the professional ranks, when he served as an assistant coach with the Detroit Lions from 1967 until 1972 and an assistant coach with the Portland Storm of the World Football League from 1974 until 1975. He later served as a court officer in Michigan. Martin was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1995.
Professional Football Player. For fourteen seasons (1950 to 1961 and 1963 to 1964), he played at the guard, linebacker and kicker positions in the National Football League with the Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions, Baltimore Colts and Washington Redskins. Born James Richard Martin, he attended East Tech High School in Ohio, where he excelled at football and swimming. During World War II, he served with the Fifth Amphibious Reconnaissance Battalion with the United States Marine Corps and from his experience, he was awarded a Bronze Star. Upon his return home, he enrolled at the University of Notre Dame and served as co-captain of the 1949 Fighting Irish team which captured a national championship. Selected by the Cleveland Browns during the 2nd round of the 1950 NFL Draft, he totaled 166 career regular season games. He experienced a world championship with Cleveland in 1950 and would go on to contribute to three more NFL Title teams (1952, 1953 and 1957 Detroit Lions). He distinguished himself, when he achieved Pro-Bowl honors in 1961. He briefly retired as a player in 1962, when he served as an assistant coach with the Denver Broncos. He resumed his playing career in 1963 and led the league with 24 field-goals made. He went on to serve as a coach on the high school and collegiate levels. He returned to the professional ranks, when he served as an assistant coach with the Detroit Lions from 1967 until 1972 and an assistant coach with the Portland Storm of the World Football League from 1974 until 1975. He later served as a court officer in Michigan. Martin was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1995.
Bio by: C.S.
Inscription
US MARINE CORPS
Advertisement
See more Martin memorials in:
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
