George Martin (American football)
Encyclopedia
George Dwight Martin is a former American football
defensive end
who played his entire career in the National Football League
for the New York Giants
(1975–1988). He currently serves as the Executive Director and President of the NFL Alumni which is headquartered in Newark, N.J.
at the University of Oregon
in the then-Pacific-8 Conference and was drafted by the Giants in the 11th round of the 1975 NFL Draft
(262nd pick overall). He was a part of the 1986 Giants team
that won a franchise record 14 games. In January 1987, Martin was one of the team captains for the Super Bowl XXI
champions; late in the second quarter, Martin sacked Denver
QB John Elway
in the end zone for a safety, cutting the Broncos' lead to 10-9 where it held until halftime. They were the first two of twenty-six consecutive points scored by the Giants in the game
In November 1985, Martin became the NFL’s all-time leader in touchdown
s scored by a defensive lineman (DL), with 5, when he returned an interception for 56 yards against the St. Louis Cardinals
. (He had previously been tied at 4 with former Dallas Cowboy
defensive tackle Bob Lilly
.) In the following championship season, Martin became the league’s career leader in TDs scored by a DL as a DL (at 6) when he returned an interception for 78 yards and 6 points in an early season home game against the same Broncos team they defeated in the Super Bowl, a feat which Giant head coach Bill Parcells
has called the "greatest football play I've ever seen."
Martin’s 7 NFL TDs came on 3 interception returns, 2 fumble
returns/recoveries, one lateral return following a blocked field goal, and one offensive pass reception (in 1980, lining up as a tight end
). (In November 2006, Miami’s
All-Pro defensive end Jason Taylor broke Martin’s career record by notching his 7th defensive touchdown after intercepting a Brad Johnson
pass.)
In addition, Martin amassed over 90 quarterback sack
s in his Giants career (his official NFL total is 46; the Giants credit him with 96), during which time he was generally regarded as one of the league's most feared pass rushers. In 2004, he was inducted into the Sports Hall of Fame of New Jersey
.
Martin has been a resident of Ringwood, New Jersey
.
's George Washington Bridge
to San Diego in order to raise money for medical care for the first responders to the September 11th, 2001 terrorist attack
on the United States
. Costing $150,000, Martin hoped to raise more than $10 million for this cause. World Wrestling Entertainment
, among others, were sponsoring Martin's walk.
Martin planned to walk more than 3,000 miles across the nation, from the New York side of the George Washington Bridge to New Jersey
, down to Washington D.C, south to Interstate 40
, then west, eventually leading to the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. He hoped to finish his walk by March 2008.
He finally arrived on June 21, 2008, walking a total of 3,020 miles and finishing in San Diego, California
. He said the total amount raised was about $2 million.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
defensive end
Defensive end
Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years...
who played his entire career in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
for the New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
(1975–1988). He currently serves as the Executive Director and President of the NFL Alumni which is headquartered in Newark, N.J.
Career
Martin missed only six games in his 14 year playing career (not counting games not played in because of strikes). He played college footballCollege football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at the University of Oregon
University of Oregon
-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...
in the then-Pacific-8 Conference and was drafted by the Giants in the 11th round of the 1975 NFL Draft
1975 NFL Draft
The 1975 National Football League Draft was held on January 28–29, 1975.-Player selections:-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:-Round four:-Round five:-Round six:-Round seven:-Round eight:-Round nine:-Round ten:...
(262nd pick overall). He was a part of the 1986 Giants team
1986 New York Giants season
The 1986 New York Giants season was one of the most successful seasons in the professional American football franchise's history. The Giants, who play in the National Football Conference of the National Football League , won their fifth championship—and first Super Bowl—in franchise history during...
that won a franchise record 14 games. In January 1987, Martin was one of the team captains for the Super Bowl XXI
Super Bowl XXI
Super Bowl XXI was an American football game played on January 25, 1987 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California to decide the National Football League champion following the 1986 regular season. The National Football Conference champion New York Giants won their first Super Bowl by defeating...
champions; late in the second quarter, Martin sacked Denver
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
QB John Elway
John Elway
John Albert Elway, Jr. is a former American football quarterback and currently is the executive vice president of football operations for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League . He played college football at Stanford and his entire professional career with the Denver Broncos...
in the end zone for a safety, cutting the Broncos' lead to 10-9 where it held until halftime. They were the first two of twenty-six consecutive points scored by the Giants in the game
In November 1985, Martin became the NFL’s all-time leader in touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
s scored by a defensive lineman (DL), with 5, when he returned an interception for 56 yards against the St. Louis Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. (He had previously been tied at 4 with former Dallas Cowboy
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
defensive tackle Bob Lilly
Bob Lilly
Robert Lewis Lilly is a former American football defensive tackle in the National Football League and photographer. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1980.-College career:...
.) In the following championship season, Martin became the league’s career leader in TDs scored by a DL as a DL (at 6) when he returned an interception for 78 yards and 6 points in an early season home game against the same Broncos team they defeated in the Super Bowl, a feat which Giant head coach Bill Parcells
Bill Parcells
Duane Charles "Bill" Parcells is a former American football head coach, most recently with the Dallas Cowboys from 2003 to 2006...
has called the "greatest football play I've ever seen."
Martin’s 7 NFL TDs came on 3 interception returns, 2 fumble
Fumble
A fumble in American and Canadian football occurs when a player, who has possession and control of the ball loses it before being downed or scoring. By rule, it is any act other than passing, kicking or successful handing that results in loss of player possession...
returns/recoveries, one lateral return following a blocked field goal, and one offensive pass reception (in 1980, lining up as a tight end
Tight end
The tight end is a position in American football on the offense. The tight end is often seen as a hybrid position with the characteristics and roles of both an offensive lineman and a wide receiver. Like offensive linemen, they are usually lined up on the offensive line and are large enough to be...
). (In November 2006, Miami’s
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
All-Pro defensive end Jason Taylor broke Martin’s career record by notching his 7th defensive touchdown after intercepting a Brad Johnson
Brad Johnson (American football)
James Bradley Johnson is a former National Football League Super Bowl-winning quarterback. He was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the ninth round of the 1992 NFL Draft. He played college football at Florida State.-Early years:Brad went to Charles D...
pass.)
In addition, Martin amassed over 90 quarterback sack
Quarterback sack
In American football and Canadian football, a sack occurs when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage before he can throw a forward pass, or when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage in the "pocket" and the intent of what he was going to do is unclear...
s in his Giants career (his official NFL total is 46; the Giants credit him with 96), during which time he was generally regarded as one of the league's most feared pass rushers. In 2004, he was inducted into the Sports Hall of Fame of New Jersey
Sports Hall of Fame of New Jersey
The Sports Hall of Fame of New Jersey was established in 1988 to honor athletes, teams, events and contributors associated with the state of New Jersey...
.
Martin has been a resident of Ringwood, New Jersey
Ringwood, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there are 12,396 people, 4,108 households, and 3,446 families residing in the borough. The population density is 491.0 people per square mile . There are 4,221 housing units at an average density of 167.2 per square mile...
.
Journey for 9/11
On September 16, 2007, Martin began walking from New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
's George Washington Bridge
George Washington Bridge
The George Washington Bridge is a suspension bridge spanning the Hudson River, connecting the Washington Heights neighborhood in the borough of Manhattan in New York City to Fort Lee, Bergen County, New Jersey. Interstate 95 and U.S. Route 1/9 cross the river via the bridge. U.S...
to San Diego in order to raise money for medical care for the first responders to the September 11th, 2001 terrorist attack
September 11, 2001 attacks
The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks (also referred to as September 11, September 11th or 9/119/11 is pronounced "nine eleven". The slash is not part of the pronunciation...
on the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Costing $150,000, Martin hoped to raise more than $10 million for this cause. World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
, among others, were sponsoring Martin's walk.
Martin planned to walk more than 3,000 miles across the nation, from the New York side of the George Washington Bridge to New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, down to Washington D.C, south to Interstate 40
Interstate 40
Interstate 40 is the third-longest major east–west Interstate Highway in the United States, after I-90 and I-80. Its western end is at Interstate 15 in Barstow, California; its eastern end is at a concurrency of U.S. Route 117 and North Carolina Highway 132 in Wilmington, North Carolina...
, then west, eventually leading to the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. He hoped to finish his walk by March 2008.
He finally arrived on June 21, 2008, walking a total of 3,020 miles and finishing in San Diego, California
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
. He said the total amount raised was about $2 million.