Harvey Martin, the legendary Dallas Cowboys defensive end of the 1970s. Martin was the co-MVP of Super Bowl XII, the 1977 Defensive Player of the Year, and a dominant force on the Cowboys’ defensive line.
Born in Dallas on November 16, 1950, Harvey Banks Martin attended the city's first integrated high school. He had no early interest in sports and didn’t join the football team until his junior year. Initially an offensive tackle, he was later moved to defensive end, where he quickly stood out and helped lead his team to a city championship.
Despite his rapid improvement, his late start meant colleges overlooked him. He received just one scholarship offer—from East Texas State (now Texas A&M–Commerce). There, he became one of the program's all-time great defenders, leading them to an NAIA national championship in 1972. He was later inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame and the Lone Star Conference Hall of Fame. Since 2008, a high school football tournament in Texas bears his name.
NFL Career with the Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys selected Martin in the third round of the 1973 NFL Draft. Early on, he was considered too passive and lacked confidence, but mentorship from offensive tackle Rayfield Wright helped unlock his potential. By 1975, Martin was a full-time starter.
His 1977 season was legendary: an unofficial 23 sacks (sacks weren’t officially recorded yet), Defensive Player of the Year honors, a Super Bowl XII win, and a shared MVP title alongside teammate Randy White. He played 11 seasons with the Cowboys, totaling 114 sacks and consistently leading the team in that category.
Martin was a rare figure who played his entire football career — from high school to the pros — within the Dallas area. He retired in 1983, but his departure from the team was strained. He accused coaches of forcing him to play while injured, and the Cowboys organization requested he take a drug test. Martin refused and walked away from football. In his 1986 autobiography, he admitted to battling a cocaine addiction during those years.
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Life After Football & Personal Struggles
Post-retirement, Martin worked in television, providing commentary for NFL games and pro wrestling on NBC. But off-screen, he faced continued struggles — debt, domestic violence issues, and substance abuse. Former Cowboys coach Tom Landry tried to get him into rehab, but it wasn’t until Martin’s 1996 arrest, conviction, and court-mandated treatment that his life began to stabilize.
He later worked for a local business and spoke to young people about the dangers of drug abuse, using his story as a cautionary tale.
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Passing & Legacy
Unfortunately, years of personal turmoil took a toll. Harvey Martin was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and passed away on December 24, 2001, at the age of just 51.
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