Why was Doug Martin suspended? 2016 suspension and struggles explained as NFL player dies in police custody

Doug Martin, 36, has recently died in police custody reportedly from a medical emergency on October 18, 2025. The news arrived shortly after the former NFL star was arrested and hospitalized.

While he had a successful journey in the world of NFL, Martin created headlines when he was suspended around nine years ago. A report shared on the official website of the National Football League claimed at the time that he reportedly violated their drug policy and was scheduled to go for treatment.

Also known as Douglas Matthewbaran Martin, he confirmed the news, stating that he was already informed about it in advance and was planning to appeal the decision, aiming to play for his team until the end of the season.

“On the field, I must be strong and determined to push through both pain and injuries to become an elite NFL running back. Off the field, I have tried that same approach in my personal life. My shortcomings in this area have taught me both that I cannot win these personal battles alone and that there is no shame in asking for help”, Martin said in his statement.

Doug additionally apologized to his team and everyone else, mentioning that he had disappointed everyone. However, Martin requested for their support, adding that he needs it to fight his personal problems.

Before his recent death, the Oakland Police did not confirm the reasons for Douglas’ arrest. The cops had responded to reports of break-in and a medical emergency at the Ettrick Street, where they discovered the suspect after entering a house, as per KTVU.

The outlet stated that the arrested individual allegedly became unresponsive after the police took him away after which he was transported to the hospital. The suspect reportedly attempted to avoid being arrested while the police approached him.

Team members from Tampa Bay Buccaneers had responded to Doug Martin’s suspension

As mentioned, the Oakland, California native was suspended in 2016. Apart from his statement, Martin’s general manager Jason Licht also confirmed it, saying that he was dealing with other problems that were bigger than football.

According to ESPN, a majority of Tampa Bay Buccaneers teammates addressed the decision at the time. Wide receiver Russell Shepard said in a statement that Doug Martin’s suspension was a surprise for everyone, describing the latter as a “great” individual and team member.

Tight end Brandon Myers also shared a similar response, saying that the team supports Doug and that everyone is satisfied with the fact that Martin witnessed a situation where he needed help and he took it without hesitation.

“A lot of us in the league, maybe our egos, our personalities, us thinking how we’ve gotten where we [are] -- we’ve done it on our own, we’ve done it through hard work. It takes a big man to step up and say, ‘I need help.’ Sometimes those issues are bigger than we can [overcome] as a football player, as an athlete”, Doug said.

Coach Dirk Koetter also shared his opinion, saying that no one can understand Doug Martin’s situation. However, he seemingly referred to Douglas’ decision to enter rehab, stating that it was a positive thing that Martin took the steps to ensure that he can live a healthy life.

A year after his suspension, Doug returned to play again, with his team activating him from the list of players that were suspended. As per ESPN, Martin expressed his happiness about the return by saying:

“I’m gonna go out there and just do the best I can do, be as ready as I can be, just play for these guys. I’m not sure [how many snaps]. I’m just going to go out there and play to the best of my ability.”

Around seven years ago, Martin also started playing for Oakland Riders. He even created different records, including multiple rushing yards in a single game.