The Oakland Police Department released body camera footage on March 13, 2026. The video shows the final moments of former NFL star Doug Martin. He died on October 18, 2025.
Thefootage shows Martin acting very confused. He broke a fence and a window to enter a house. Neighbors called emergency services because they were scared. Martin was only 36 years old when he died.
🚨🚨BREAKING NEWS🚨🚨
POLICE FOOTAGE HAS BEEN RELEASED FROM THE NIGHT OF THE TRAGIC DEATH OF #NFL LEGENDARY RB DOUG MARTIN.
Doug was suffering from long-term addiction & mental health issues.
This video is extremely scary to watch & absolutely tragic.pic.twitter.com/IgZ0rjzT4Y
— MLFootball (@MLFootball) March 14, 2026
His mother also called the police that night. She told the operator her son had a mental health emergency. She said he had not slept for 3 days. She wanted help for him.
Body cameras show a short struggle inside the home. Officers tried to hold Martin down to arrest him. He was later put into a police car. He became unresponsive very quickly after that.
Martin was a leading running back. He played 6 seasons for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He earned the nickname Muscle Hamster. He was a 2 time Pro Bowler in the NFL.
Doug Martin
St. Mary’s Doug Martin, left, outruns Jesuit’s Ryan Blakemore on a kickoff during a varsity football game at Jesuit High in Carmichael on Sept. 10, 2005.
He finished his career with the Oakland Raiders in 2018. After he died, his family asked for a special brain test. They sent his brain to the Boston University CTE Center for study.
CTE is a brain disease caused by many hits to the head. Many football players suffer from it. The family believes this disease caused his strange behavior and mental crisis.
The police initially did not want to show the video. They said it was not a critical incident. Public pressure forced them to release the records 5 months after his death.
Civil rights lawyer John Burris is looking at the case. He wants to know whether the police used excessive force. The investigation into the exact cause of death is still active.
Details from the released emergency calls regarding Doug Martin’s incident
The released audio files include 2 different emergency calls. The first call came from a neighbor who heard glass breaking. The caller said a man was trying to get inside.
The second call was more emotional. Martin’s mother sounded very worried about her son. She explained that his mind was not working right. She mentioned his lack of sleep.
The video shows Martin yelling but he does not seem to know where he is. He was pronounced dead at the hospital shortly after the police arrived. Fans are now mourning the loss again.
This footage helps the public understand what happened that night. It shows how fast a mental health crisis can turn into a tragedy. The NFL community continues to wait for the final CTE report.