Former NFL running back Curtis James Martin, Jr. was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on May 1, 1973. He attended Taylor Allderdice High School and is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh.

He played for both the New York Jets and the New England Patriots while in the National Football League.

The New England Patriots picked Curtis Martin in the third round of the 1995 NFL Draft. He was named Offensive Rookie of the Year after gaining 1,487 rushing yards. Martin was also named in the Pro Bowl. The next year, he set a record with 166 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns in the first playoff game of his career versus the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The New England Patriots made it to Super Bowl XXXI that year, but was defeated by the Green Bay Packers. Curtis Martin caught 3 passes at 28 yards, held 42 rushing yards, as well as scoring a touchdown during the game. Although he was less successful in 1996 than during his first season, Martin was named to be a Pro Bowler once more.

Martin became a restricted free agent. After the season in1997, he signed an offer sheet with the New York Jets for more than $30 million for six years. The Patriots could not match offer from the Jets. Therefore, Martin moved to the Jets where he joined back up with his coach from the Patriots, Bill Parcells.

Martin only missed one game throughout the entire initial seven seasons that he played with the Jets. He was chosen for the Pro Bowl three additional times.1998 was a good year for Curtis Martin, he scored 2 touchdowns and gained 182 yards from scrimmage and scoring two touchdowns in a playoff win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. Martin took the rushing title in the NFL in 2004, gaining 1,697. Martin also earned the 2004 Ground Player of the Year Award from FedEx.

The following year Curtis Martin failed at becoming the first NFL running back in history to begin his professional football career with rushing 1,000 yards for eleven consecutive seasons.

He was absent from the December 11, 2005 game against the Oakland Raiders due to a knee injury which had him put on injured reserve for the last few games of the season. Curtis Martin ended that year rushing 735 yards, making his career total 14,101 yards. Curtis Martin started 2006 on the list of Physically Unable to Perform because of injury complications.

He made the announcement that he would be out for the remainder of the season due to the condition of his right knee in November of 2006. Curtis Martin officially retired from the National Football League on July 26, 2007.

These days, Curtis Martin can usually be found courtside of the New York Knicks games or at a movie premiere. Martin was listed in Esquire Magazine as one of 2004's best dressed. made Esquire Magazine's best-dressed list in 2004. Recently, Martin has been seen with Shakara Ledard and Michelle Williams of Destiny's Child, who is also a devout Christian. Martin presently lives in Garden City, New York.

by Julie-Ann Amos, professional writer, and owner of international writing agency www.ExquisiteWriting.com

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