Harvey Martin facts for kids

Harvey Banks Martin (born November 16, 1950 – died December 24, 2001) was an American professional football player. He played as a defensive end for the Dallas Cowboys in the National Football League (NFL). He was a Cowboy from 1973 to 1983.

Harvey Martin was known for his amazing skills. He played for South Oak Cliff High School and East Texas State University. Later, he became an All-Pro player with the Cowboys.

Early Life and Football Journey

Harvey Martin started playing football later than most. In 1967, during his junior year of high school, he moved to South Oak Cliff High School. This was the first integrated high school in Dallas.

He heard his father express disappointment about him not playing sports. So, Harvey decided to try out for the football team. He started as a backup offensive tackle. He only played when his team had a big lead.

In his senior year, he worked hard to change that. He convinced his coaches to let him play defensive tackle. By the third game, he was a starter. He became the best lineman on a team that won the Dallas City championship.

College Football Success

Harvey was still quite thin and developing. Only one college offered him a scholarship: East Texas State in Commerce. This school is now called Texas A&M University–Commerce.

His first two years in college were quiet. But he soon became an amazing defensive end. In his senior year (1972), he led his school to a national title. He was named an NAIA All-American.

Harvey Martin is a very famous name at Texas A&M University–Commerce. He was added to their Hall of Fame in 1987. The school even hosts the Harvey Martin Classic. This is a football game played in his honor.

He was also honored by the Lone Star Conference. In 2007, he was named to their 75th Anniversary football team. He was also chosen as the best defensive player of the 1970s. In 2010, he joined the Lone Star Conference Hall Of Fame.

A Star in the NFL

The Dallas Cowboys picked Harvey Martin in the third round of the 1973 NFL Draft. At first, his coaches wanted him to be more aggressive. They helped him become stronger and better at playing.

He practiced against Rayfield Wright, a future Hall of Famer. Harvey became a very emotional and tough player. People even nicknamed him "Too Mean." By 1975, he was a full-time starter for the Cowboys.

Sack Leader and Super Bowl Champion

The NFL did not officially count quarterback sacks until 1982. But the Cowboys kept their own records. According to their stats, Harvey Martin had 114 sacks in his career.

He led the Cowboys in sacks seven times over nine years. In 1977, he had an amazing 23 sacks. This is still a team record for most sacks in a single season. He also holds the rookie sack record with 9 sacks in 1973.

His 1977 season was one of the best ever for an NFL player. He made 85 tackles and led the league with 23 sacks. He was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year.

He was also a key player when the Cowboys won Super Bowl XII. He was even named co-MVP of the game with Randy White. This means he was one of the most valuable players in that Super Bowl.

Harvey Martin was part of the famous "Doomsday Defense." He went to the Pro Bowl four times. Former Cowboys General Manager Tex Schramm said he was "one of the great Cowboys of the golden years."

Harvey Martin played his high school, college, and professional football all around Dallas, Texas. He never played a home game outside of North Texas. He retired from football in 1983.

In 2009, he was inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame. He is also a member of the Texas Black Sports Hall of Fame.

Life After Football

After retiring from football in 1984, Harvey Martin tried new things. He worked as a football analyst for NBC. He also appeared in wrestling events like WrestleMania 2. He was a commentator for other wrestling shows too.

Harvey Martin passed away on December 24, 2001. He was 51 years old. He died from pancreatic cancer at Baylor Medical Center in Grapevine, Texas. He was survived by his mother, son, and daughter.

Many former teammates attended his funeral. His sister, Mary Martin, started the Harvey Martin Dream Foundation. This group helps high school students with education and financial support. Tex Schramm said Harvey would be remembered as "one of the great Cowboys."

Before Bart Starr's death in 2019, Harvey Martin was the only Super Bowl Most Valuable Player to have passed away. His co-MVP, Randy White, honored him at later Super Bowls.

See also

In Spanish: Harvey Martin para niños