John Paul Martha (June 22, 1942 – February 4, 2023) was an American professional football player who was a safety for seven seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He later entered the practice of law.
Martha played high school athletics at Shady Side Academy in Pittsburgh, where he was a star quarterback, graduating in 1960.[1]
College careeredit
Martha played college football and basketball at the University of Pittsburgh.[2] After playing quarterback in 1961, he moved to running back, where he became a consensus All-American in his second season at the new position. In 1962, he led Pitt in both receiving and scoring. He led the Panthers to a 9-1 record as a senior in 1963,[3] and after the season he played in the East-West Shrine Game, the Hula Bowl and the College All-Star game.[2][4]
In his rookie season of 1964, Martha caught six passes for 145 yards (a 24.2 average) and rushed four times for 12 yards. He also returned 13 punts and one kick. In 1965, he caught 11 passes for 171 yards (a 15.5 average) and rushed two times for three yards.[6][7] He spent the next four seasons as a full-time safety on defense, and in those four seasons he recorded a total of 15 interceptions.[8]
After the 1969 season, his sixth and last one in Pittsburgh, he played for the Denver Broncos in 1970, picking off a career-high six passes for 99 return yards.[7]
Post-NFL careeredit
During his time playing for the Steelers, Martha attended Duquesne University, from which he earned a law degree. He became an attorney and worked for the Reed, Smith, Shaw and McClay law firm in Pittsburgh and for Youngstown Steel before hooking up with Edward J. DeBartolo, Sr., the Youngstown shopping mall magnate, in the mid-1970s. He rose in prominence with DeBartolo's sports teams, becoming executive vice president, general counsel and CEO of the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1977 and executive vice president and general counsel of the San Francisco 49ers in 1978. He also ran the Civic Arena, prior name of the Mellon Arena.[2] In the early 1980s, he was general manager of the Pittsburgh Maulers of the USFL. He was involved in mediating between the NFL players union and NFL owners on different occasions.
Personal life and deathedit
Martha lived in a retirement community in Valencia, Pennsylvania. He had three sons and six grandchildren.[2] In 2010, he returned to Pittsburgh to attend a Paul Martha Tribute Luncheon attended by 140 people.[1]
Martha was married twice, to Roxanne Martha and then to Bobbie Martha-Smith. Paul Martha died in Pittsburgh on February 4, 2023, at the age of 80.[9]
^ abcd"Fame's aftershock hits former Steeler Paul Martha | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette". post-gazette.com. Retrieved 2015-04-13.
^"Pittsburgh Sports Report: Pittsburgh Panthers: 1963 No Bowl Team by George Von Benko". pittsburghsportsreport.com. Retrieved 2015-04-13.
^. pittsburghpanthers.com. Archived from the original on 2014-07-08. Retrieved 2015-04-13.
^"National Football League: NFL Draft History". nfl.com. Retrieved 2015-04-13.
^Freedman, L.; Hoak, D. (2009). Pittsburgh Steelers: The Complete Illustrated History. MBI Publishing Company. p. 63. ISBN9780760336458. Retrieved 2015-04-13.
^"Paul Martha, DB at NFL.com". nfl.com. Retrieved 2015-04-13.
^Williams, Charean. "Former Steelers player, 49ers executive Paul Martha dies at 80". Pro Football Talk. NBC Sports. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
January 01, 1970
paul, martha, john, june, 1942, february, 2023, american, professional, football, player, safety, seven, seasons, national, football, league, later, entered, practice, 47position, safetypersonal, informationborn, 1942, june, 1942pittsburgh, pennsylvania, died,. John Paul Martha June 22 1942 February 4 2023 was an American professional football player who was a safety for seven seasons in the National Football League NFL He later entered the practice of law Paul MarthaNo 20 47Position SafetyPersonal informationBorn 1942 06 22 June 22 1942Pittsburgh Pennsylvania U S Died February 4 2023 2023 02 04 aged 80 Pittsburgh Pennsylvania U S Height 6 ft 0 in 1 83 m Weight 187 lb 85 kg Career informationHigh school Shady Side AcademyCollege PittsburghNFL draft 1964 Round 1 Pick 10AFL draft 1964 Round 9 Pick 69Career historyPittsburgh Steelers 1964 1969 Denver Broncos 1970 Career highlights and awardsConsensus All American 1963 2 First team All East 1962 1963 Player stats at PFR Contents 1 Early life 2 College career 3 NFL career 4 Post NFL career 5 Personal life and death 6 ReferencesEarly life editMartha played high school athletics at Shady Side Academy in Pittsburgh where he was a star quarterback graduating in 1960 1 College career editMartha played college football and basketball at the University of Pittsburgh 2 After playing quarterback in 1961 he moved to running back where he became a consensus All American in his second season at the new position In 1962 he led Pitt in both receiving and scoring He led the Panthers to a 9 1 record as a senior in 1963 3 and after the season he played in the East West Shrine Game the Hula Bowl and the College All Star game 2 4 NFL career editMartha was selected in the first round 10th overall of the 1964 NFL Draft by his hometown Pittsburgh Steelers 5 In his rookie season of 1964 Martha caught six passes for 145 yards a 24 2 average and rushed four times for 12 yards He also returned 13 punts and one kick In 1965 he caught 11 passes for 171 yards a 15 5 average and rushed two times for three yards 6 7 He spent the next four seasons as a full time safety on defense and in those four seasons he recorded a total of 15 interceptions 8 After the 1969 season his sixth and last one in Pittsburgh he played for the Denver Broncos in 1970 picking off a career high six passes for 99 return yards 7 Post NFL career editDuring his time playing for the Steelers Martha attended Duquesne University from which he earned a law degree He became an attorney and worked for the Reed Smith Shaw and McClay law firm in Pittsburgh and for Youngstown Steel before hooking up with Edward J DeBartolo Sr the Youngstown shopping mall magnate in the mid 1970s He rose in prominence with DeBartolo s sports teams becoming executive vice president general counsel and CEO of the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1977 and executive vice president and general counsel of the San Francisco 49ers in 1978 He also ran the Civic Arena prior name of the Mellon Arena 2 In the early 1980s he was general manager of the Pittsburgh Maulers of the USFL He was involved in mediating between the NFL players union and NFL owners on different occasions Personal life and death editMartha lived in a retirement community in Valencia Pennsylvania He had three sons and six grandchildren 2 In 2010 he returned to Pittsburgh to attend a Paul Martha Tribute Luncheon attended by 140 people 1 Martha was married twice to Roxanne Martha and then to Bobbie Martha Smith Paul Martha died in Pittsburgh on February 4 2023 at the age of 80 9 References edit a b Paul Martha Tribute Luncheon WHIRL Magazine Pittsburgh whirlmagazine com Retrieved 2015 04 13 a b c d Fame s aftershock hits former Steeler Paul Martha Pittsburgh Post Gazette post gazette com Retrieved 2015 04 13 Pittsburgh Sports Report Pittsburgh Panthers 1963 No Bowl Team by George Von Benko pittsburghsportsreport com Retrieved 2015 04 13 Pitt Football s All Time First Team All Americans PittsburghPanthers com University of Pittsburgh Official Athletic Site pittsburghpanthers com Archived from the original on 2014 07 08 Retrieved 2015 04 13 National Football League NFL Draft History nfl com Retrieved 2015 04 13 Freedman L Hoak D 2009 Pittsburgh Steelers The Complete Illustrated History MBI Publishing Company p 63 ISBN 9780760336458 Retrieved 2015 04 13 a b Paul Martha NFL Football Statistics Pro Football Reference com pro football reference com Retrieved 2015 04 13 Paul Martha DB at NFL com nfl com Retrieved 2015 04 13 Williams Charean Former Steelers player 49ers executive Paul Martha dies at 80 Pro Football Talk NBC Sports Retrieved 9 February 2023 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Paul Martha amp oldid 1204338609, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
