Kelvin Martin (American football)
Encyclopedia
Kelvin Brian Martin is a former professional American football
player in the National Football League
who was selected by the Dallas Cowboys
in the fourth round of the 1987 NFL Draft
. A 5'9", 163 lb (73.9 kg). wide receiver
from Boston College
, Martin played in ten NFL seasons from 1987 to 1996 for the Cowboys, Seattle Seahawks
, and Philadelphia Eagles
.
s (7).
s in Boston College
history, still holds the career touchdown
receptions record with 28. Remains second in career yardage (2,337 yards) behind Pete Mitchell
and fifth in receptions (133). Overall, he scored 194 career points.
In 1985 he was named as an An All-East wide receiver
, had a career-high 172 receiving yards against Pittsburgh University, and was key contributor in Boston College
’s Cotton Bowl win.
He caught the winning touchdown
pass in the final seconds of Boston College
27-24 Hall of Fame Bowl victory over Georgia University in 1986.
As a punt return specialist, he led the nation in yardage in 1985 (510). He set Boston College
records for career returns (79 for 1,012 yards), single season yardage (510), single game yardage (166), and scored four touchdown
s on punt runbacks.
Inducted into the Boston College
Varsity Club Athletic Hall of Fame
in 2000.
by the Dallas Cowboys
.
Nicknamed "K-Mart", by his second season in Dallas, he became a starter playing along side Michael Irvin
. With the arrival of Alvin Harper
, he found his role dimished, limiting him to third down situations and as a punt returner.
Martin led the Cowboys in receptions with 46 in 1989
and 64 in 1990
. Also led the team in punt returns in five different seasons, tying the record held by Bob Hayes
.
Caught 32 passes for 359 yards and three touchdown
s during the 1992
Super Bowl
championship season. Also returned two punts for touchdown
s.
as an unrestricted free agent 1993
. In two years with the Seahawks, he combined for 113 receptions, 1,479 yards and six touchdown
s.
in the 1995 NFL Expansion Draft
, but was later released to reach the 95 man roster limit.
and appeared in nine games during the 1995 season
, catching 17 passes for 206 yards.
, catching 25 passes for 380 yards.
He retired at the end of the season finishing his career with 367 passes for 4,768 yards, 15 touchdown
s and 41 punts returns for 373 yards.
until his resignation in 2002.
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...
player 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...
who was selected by the Dallas Cowboys
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...
in the fourth round of the 1987 NFL Draft
1987 NFL Draft
The 1987 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 28–29, 1987...
. A 5'9", 163 lb (73.9 kg). wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
from Boston College
Boston College
Boston College is a private Jesuit research university located in the village of Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA. The main campus is bisected by the border between the cities of Boston and Newton. It has 9,200 full-time undergraduates and 4,000 graduate students. Its name reflects its early...
, Martin played in ten NFL seasons from 1987 to 1996 for the Cowboys, Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
, and Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
Early years
At Ribault High School in 1982, he made first-team All-City, while leading all Jacksonville receivers in catches (47), yards (746) and touchdownTouchdown
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 (7).
College Career
Among top wide receiverWide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
s in Boston College
Boston College
Boston College is a private Jesuit research university located in the village of Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA. The main campus is bisected by the border between the cities of Boston and Newton. It has 9,200 full-time undergraduates and 4,000 graduate students. Its name reflects its early...
history, still holds the career 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:...
receptions record with 28. Remains second in career yardage (2,337 yards) behind Pete Mitchell
Pete Mitchell
Pete Mitchell was born in Crumpsall, Manchester, England. He was previously a radio presenter for Manchester's Piccadilly Radio, Key 103, BBC Radio 2, BBC 6 Music and Xfm and was one half of duo Pete & Geoff on Virgin Radio...
and fifth in receptions (133). Overall, he scored 194 career points.
In 1985 he was named as an An All-East wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
, had a career-high 172 receiving yards against Pittsburgh University, and was key contributor in Boston College
Boston College
Boston College is a private Jesuit research university located in the village of Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA. The main campus is bisected by the border between the cities of Boston and Newton. It has 9,200 full-time undergraduates and 4,000 graduate students. Its name reflects its early...
’s Cotton Bowl win.
He caught the winning 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:...
pass in the final seconds of Boston College
Boston College
Boston College is a private Jesuit research university located in the village of Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA. The main campus is bisected by the border between the cities of Boston and Newton. It has 9,200 full-time undergraduates and 4,000 graduate students. Its name reflects its early...
27-24 Hall of Fame Bowl victory over Georgia University in 1986.
As a punt return specialist, he led the nation in yardage in 1985 (510). He set Boston College
Boston College
Boston College is a private Jesuit research university located in the village of Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA. The main campus is bisected by the border between the cities of Boston and Newton. It has 9,200 full-time undergraduates and 4,000 graduate students. Its name reflects its early...
records for career returns (79 for 1,012 yards), single season yardage (510), single game yardage (166), and scored four 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 on punt runbacks.
Inducted into the Boston College
Boston College
Boston College is a private Jesuit research university located in the village of Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA. The main campus is bisected by the border between the cities of Boston and Newton. It has 9,200 full-time undergraduates and 4,000 graduate students. Its name reflects its early...
Varsity Club Athletic Hall of Fame
Hall of Fame
A hall of fame, wall of fame, walk of fame, walk of stars or avenue of stars is a type of attraction established for any field of endeavor to honor individuals of noteworthy achievement in that field...
in 2000.
Dallas Cowboys
Martin was drafted in the 4th round of the 1987 NFL Draft1987 NFL Draft
The 1987 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 28–29, 1987...
by the Dallas Cowboys
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...
.
Nicknamed "K-Mart", by his second season in Dallas, he became a starter playing along side Michael Irvin
Michael Irvin
Michael Jerome Irvin is a former American football player for the Dallas Cowboys, and actor. He is also a former broadcaster for ESPN's NFL Countdown and currently an analyst for NFL Network. Irvin was self-nicknamed "The Playmaker" due to his penchant for making big plays in big games during his...
. With the arrival of Alvin Harper
Alvin Harper
Alvin Craig Harper is a former American football player in the National Football League. After going 1-15 in 1989 and 7-9 in 1990, the Dallas Cowboys were poised to capitalize on some key draft opportunities...
, he found his role dimished, limiting him to third down situations and as a punt returner.
Martin led the Cowboys in receptions with 46 in 1989
1989 NFL season
The 1989 NFL season was the 70th regular season of the National Football League. Before the season, NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle announced his retirement...
and 64 in 1990
1990 NFL season
The 1990 NFL season was the 71st regular season of the National Football League. To increase revenue, the league changed the regular season so that all NFL teams would play their 16-game schedule over a 17-week period...
. Also led the team in punt returns in five different seasons, tying the record held by Bob Hayes
Bob Hayes
Robert Lee "Bullet Bob" Hayes was an Olympic sprinter turned American football wide receiver in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys. An American track and field athlete, he was a two-sport stand-out in college in both track and football at Florida A&M University...
.
Caught 32 passes for 359 yards and three 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 during the 1992
1992 NFL season
The 1992 NFL season was the 73rd regular season of the National Football League.Due to the damage caused by Hurricane Andrew, the New England Patriots–Miami Dolphins game that was scheduled for September 6 at Joe Robbie Stadium was rescheduled to October 18. Both teams originally had that...
Super Bowl
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
championship season. Also returned two punts for 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.
Seattle Seahawks
Signed with the Seattle SeahawksSeattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
as an unrestricted free agent 1993
1993 NFL season
The 1993 NFL season was the 74th regular season of the National Football League. For the first time in league history, all NFL teams played their 16-game schedule over a span of 18 weeks. After the success of expanding the regular season to a period of 17 weeks in 1990, the league hoped this new...
. In two years with the Seahawks, he combined for 113 receptions, 1,479 yards and six 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.
Jacksonville Jaguars
He was selected by the Jacksonville JaguarsJacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the 1995 NFL Expansion Draft
1995 NFL Expansion Draft
The 1995 National Football League Expansion Draft was held on February 15, 1995. The two new expansion teams, the Carolina Panthers and the Jacksonville Jaguars alternated picks from lists of unprotected players from existing franchises. Existing NFL teams made six players available, and the new...
, but was later released to reach the 95 man roster limit.
Philadelphia Eagles
After his release he signed with Philadelphia EaglesPhiladelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
and appeared in nine games during the 1995 season
1995 NFL season
The 1995 NFL season was the 76th regular season of the National Football League. The league expanded to 30 teams with the addition of the Carolina Panthers and the Jacksonville Jaguars...
, catching 17 passes for 206 yards.
Dallas Cowboys
Re-signed with the Cowboys in 19961996 NFL season
The 1996 NFL season was the 77th regular season of the National Football League and the season was marked by notable controversies from beginning to end...
, catching 25 passes for 380 yards.
He retired at the end of the season finishing his career with 367 passes for 4,768 yards, 15 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 and 41 punts returns for 373 yards.
Post Football career
He was assistant football coach for the University of North TexasUniversity of North Texas
The University of North Texas is a public institution of higher education and research in Denton. Founded in 1890, UNT is part of the University of North Texas System. As of the fall of 2010, the University of North Texas, Denton campus, had a certified enrollment of 36,067...
until his resignation in 2002.