Parents of Doug Martin allege excessive force in former NFL running back's death
A wrongful death lawsuit filed in federal court accuses Oakland police of restraining the former Buccaneers and Raiders back face down and contributing to his death last October. The city has declined to comment, citing pending litigation.
The parents of former NFL running back Doug Martin have filed a wrongful death lawsuit alleging that excessive force by Oakland police and delayed medical care led to his death last October, according to ESPN. Martin, who played seven NFL seasons and twice earned Pro Bowl honors with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, was 36. The city of Oakland has declined to comment on the specific allegations, citing the pending litigation. What follows is drawn from ESPN's reporting and the account police gave at the time; key questions, including the official cause of death, remain open.
What do Doug Martin's parents allege happened?
According to ESPN, Leslie and Douglas Martin filed a wrongful death lawsuit in federal court on June 25, 2026, naming the city of Oakland, several police officers, and an ambulance company. The suit alleges that their son was experiencing a mental health crisis last October when responding Oakland police officers held him face down while one or more officers pressed on his back. The lawsuit alleges that this restraint was a substantial factor in causing his death, ESPN reported. The complaint also accuses paramedics from Falck USA and a regional subsidiary of taking more than 15 minutes to respond and of failing to promptly provide medical care after arriving, according to ESPN. These are allegations contained in a civil filing and have not been tested in court. The defendants have not yet responded to the claims in the reporting reviewed here.
What have police said about the encounter?
Per ESPN, Leslie Martin called 911 out of concern for her son's mental health, after which he left the area, and officers responding to that call and to separate break-in reports found him at a neighbor's home. ESPN reported that Oakland police said at the time that Martin was involved in a break-in, that a brief struggle occurred during his detention, and that he became unresponsive. Body camera footage referenced in the reporting indicates officers knew his name and that a brief struggle took place, according to ESPN. The police department has declined to comment further, citing the pending litigation, ESPN reported. The family's account and the department's earlier statement differ on how the encounter unfolded and what caused Martin's death.
Is there an official cause of death or any charges?
As of ESPN's reporting, no official cause of death had been released and no criminal charges had been announced. ESPN reported that the Alameda County Coroner's Office said its autopsy report was awaiting the results of additional testing requested by Martin's family. A pathologist retained by the family concluded that Martin likely died from restrained asphyxia, according to ESPN, but that is the family's independent finding and not an official ruling. ESPN also reported that brain tissue was sent to the Boston University CTE Center for examination, with results pending. Because the official determination is not yet complete, the cause of death remains undetermined in the public record described by the reporting.
Sources
- ESPN: Parents allege excessive force in death of ex-NFL RB Doug Martin
