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Former Vikings defensive end Doug Martin dies at 68
Martin led the NFL with 11.5 sacks in the strike-shortened 1982 season and finished with 61.5 sacks in 10 Vikings seasons.
- Former Minnesota Vikings defensive end Doug Martin died Monday, April 20, 2026, at age 68. The team announced the passing of the 1980 first-round pick who anchored Minnesota's defense for a decade.
- Selected ninth overall in the 1980 NFL Draft, Martin forged a standout career at the University of Washington before joining the Vikings. He played all 10 seasons in Minnesota, retiring in 1989 after 126 games.
- Martin retired with 61.5 sacks, a franchise fourth-best at retirement. He earned first-team All-Pro honors in 1982, leading the NFL with 11.5 sacks despite the strike-shortened season limiting play to nine games.
- Former teammate Warren Moon remembered Martin as "a loyal and honest friend," while Vikings Ring of Honor linebacker Scott Studwell called him "a solid, tough, really talented guy." Both praised his consistency and character.
- News of Martin's death became public just hours before the 2026 NFL Draft, adding emotional weight to the league's celebration of incoming talent. His passing serves as a reminder of the foundational players who shaped the NFL.
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Vikings Legend, 1980 First-Round Pick, Dies at 68
The Minnesota Vikings have announced the sad news that Doug Martin, the team’s 1980 first-round pick, has died. Martin passed away on Monday, April 20, at the age of 68. His cause of death hasn’t been revealed. The Vikings selected Martin with the No. 9 overall pick out of the University of Washington. In college, he helped the Huskies beat the Texas Longhorns, 14-7, in the Sun Bowl, and scored the most valuable lineman award with 10 tackles and…
·New York, United States
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Total News Sources14
Leaning Left1Leaning Right1Center8Last UpdatedBias Distribution80% Center
Bias Distribution
- 80% of the sources are Center
80% Center
C 80%
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