Martin Dies of Cancer

Former Dallas Cowboy defensive end Harvey Martin, once a Super Bowl most valuable player, died of pancreatic cancer. He was 51.

Baylor Health Care Center spokeswoman Maureen Porter said Martin died at 8:24 p.m. Monday at Baylor Medical Center in Grapevine.

The four-time Pro Bowl selection starred for the Cowboys in the 1970s and highlighted his 11-year career by being the co-MVP of the 1978 Super Bowl.

Martin had surgery about a year ago and his condition worsened recently. Porter said Martin’s family planned to issue a statement by today.

Martin was among the Cowboys’ most popular players in the 1970s and early 1980s, setting team records with 114 career sacks and 20 in a season, 1977. That season he was Associated Press’ NFL defensive player of the year.

In seven seasons, he led the Cowboys in sacks. Former Dallas coach Tom Landry called Martin the best pass-rushing end in team history.

Teammates always joked with Martin that he never returned a fumble for a touchdown and that he was once even tackled by the quarterback.

“It never happened to me,” Martin said in an interview with the Dallas Morning News.

“Closest I came was with a fumble. I got tackled by the quarterback, and everybody laughed at me. Both teams.

“I killed many a quarterback. I felt like I scored when I took their head off.”

The Dallas native starred at South Oak Cliff High and East Texas State--now Texas A&M--before; the Cowboys selected him in the third round of the 1973 draft.

Since retiring in 1984, Martin struggled with substance abuse, domestic violence and bankruptcy.

In 1996, Martin was jailed on domestic violence and cocaine charges. He received probation on both charges and was sent to the Dallas County Judicial Treatment Center.

He was released after eight months and took a job selling chemical products. Martin also made antidrug speeches to children.

In a July 1998 story in the Morning News, Martin said he had been clean for nearly two years.

“I had such a wonderful life before drugs and alcohol abuse,” Martin said.

“I’ve got that life back now and plan to keep it. Maybe I had to go through what I did to get to this point, to appreciate this life more.”