Former NFL Player Doug Martin Dies After Psychotic Episode at Rehab

Doug Martin, former NFL running back known as the 'Muscle Hamster,' tragically died at age 36 on October 18, 2025, amid ongoing struggles with mental health and substance abuse. In the months before his death, Martin was admitted to Tranquility Rehab Center where he tested positive for cocaine and methamphetamines and exhibited severe psychotic episodes, including jumping from a second-floor window and sustaining injuries. During one incident, police found him with cocaine, fentanyl, and a 12-inch chef's knife, leading to a physical altercation and his involuntary psychiatric hold. On the day of his death, Martin was reported to have broken into a neighbor's home while disoriented, resulting in a brief struggle with police before he became unresponsive and was pronounced dead in hospital custody. The exact cause of death remains undetermined pending further investigation and toxicology results, but his family confirmed his prolonged battle with mental illness. Martin's career highlights included being a first-round draft pick, two-time Pro Bowler, and holding NFL and franchise records with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.