The official cause of death has not been confirmed at this time. His family’s statement simply noted the passing and asked for privacy

• The official cause of death has not been confirmed at this time. His family’s statement simply noted the passing and asked for privacy. Fox Sports+1

• Some reports indicate involvement with law‑enforcement in an early morning incident in Oakland, California. For example, one report suggests Martin was involved in a “brief struggle” after officers responded to a break‑in and later became unresponsive. New York Post+1

• Because these are still early/ongoing developments, the facts around the circumstances of his death should be considered preliminary.

Why his career mattered

• Martin’s electric rookie performance — especially a game where he rushed for 251 yards and 4 touchdowns — made him a breakout star and endeared him to fans. SI+1

• He ranked among the top rushers in Tampa Bay franchise history: for instance, he was 4th in rushing yards for the Buccaneers. Al Jazeera

• His nickname “Muscle Hamster” captured his compact size (5‑foot‑9) paired with powerful running and toughness on the field. SI