# Sam Martin (American football)

Sam Joseph Martin (born February 27, 1990) is an American professional football punter for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Appalachian State Mountaineers, and was selected by the Detroit Lions in the fifth round of the 2013 NFL draft.

## Early life

Martin was lettered for soccer for four years and also received all-state recognition in his junior season at Starr's Mill High School.

## College career

In his senior season at Appalachian State University, he was selected to the Associated Press All-America First team. He also was named to the first-team All-America by College Sports Journal and third-team all-America by The Sports Network in his senior season.

## Professional career

Pre-draft measurables :
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span |
| 6 ft 0+1⁄8 in (1.83 m) | 206 lb (93 kg) | 30 in (0.76 m) | 8+1⁄2 in (0.22 m) |
| All values from Pro Day ||||

### Detroit Lions

Martin was selected by the Detroit Lions in the fifth round of the 2013 NFL draft. He was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team.
In Week 12 of the 2015 season, Martin was awarded as the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week for four punts totaling 181 yards and only three punt return yards.
Martin signed a four-year contract extension with the Lions on September 9, 2016. At the conclusion of the 2016 NFL season, Martin was named as an alternate for the 2017 Pro Bowl, but did not participate in the game.
On September 2, 2017, Martin was placed on the non-football injury list after suffering an ankle injury during the offseason. He was activated to the active roster on October 28, 2017, for the team's Week 8 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

### Denver Broncos

On March 30, 2020, Martin signed a three year, $7.05 million deal with the Denver Broncos.
Martin was released by the Broncos on August 29, 2022, after he refused to take a pay cut.

### Buffalo Bills

On August 31, 2022, Martin signed a one-year deal with the Buffalo Bills. He signed a three-year, $7.5 million contract extension on March 13, 2023.

### Carolina Panthers

On March 11, 2025, the Carolina Panthers signed Martin to a one-year contract.

## NFL career statistics

Legend :
| Bold | Career high |

### Regular season

| Year | Team | Punting | Punting | Punting | Punting | Punting | Punting | Punting | Punting | Punting | Punting |
| Year | Team | GP | Punts | Yds | Net Yds | Lng | Avg | Net Avg | Blk | Ins20 | TB |
| 2013 | DET | 16 | 72 | 3,399 | 2,949 | 72 | 47.2 | 40.4 | 1 | 22 | 10 |
| 2014 | DET | 16 | 68 | 3,138 | 2,727 | 71 | 46.1 | 40.1 | 0 | 29 | 5 |
| 2015 | DET | 16 | 80 | 3,679 | 3,356 | 66 | 46.0 | 42.0 | 0 | 25 | 3 |
| 2016 | DET | 16 | 62 | 3,010 | 2,740 | 63 | 48.5 | 44.2 | 0 | 23 | 3 |
| 2017 | DET | 10 | 41 | 1,779 | 1,543 | 64 | 43.4 | 37.6 | 0 | 13 | 6 |
| 2018 | DET | 16 | 74 | 3,310 | 2,898 | 61 | 44.7 | 39.2 | 0 | 32 | 4 |
| 2019 | DET | 16 | 76 | 3,445 | 3,175 | 62 | 45.3 | 41.8 | 0 | 31 | 7 |
| 2020 | DEN | 16 | 65 | 3,040 | 2,734 | 69 | 46.8 | 41.4 | 1 | 19 | 4 |
| 2021 | DEN | 17 | 67 | 3,083 | 2,869 | 68 | 46.0 | 42.8 | 0 | 28 | 3 |
| 2022 | BUF | 16 | 45 | 2,146 | 1,895 | 67 | 47.7 | 41.2 | 1 | 16 | 5 |
| 2023 | BUF | 17 | 51 | 2,334 | 2,030 | 70 | 45.8 | 39.8 | 0 | 24 | 3 |
| 2024 | BUF | 17 | 54 | 2,523 | 2,189 | 65 | 46.7 | 39.8 | 1 | 25 | 5 |
| Career | Career | 189 | 755 | 34,886 | 31,105 | 72 | 46.2 | 41.0 | 4 | 287 | 58 |

### Playoffs

| Year | Team | Punting | Punting | Punting | Punting | Punting | Punting | Punting | Punting | Punting | Punting |
| Year | Team | GP | Punts | Yds | Net Yds | Lng | Avg | Net Avg | Blk | Ins20 | TB |
| 2014 | DET | 1 | 4 | 142 | 142 | 48 | 35.5 | 35.5 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 2016 | DET | 1 | 5 | 232 | 227 | 55 | 46.4 | 45.4 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 2022 | BUF | 2 | 9 | 418 | 320 | 53 | 46.4 | 35.6 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| 2023 | BUF | 2 | 5 | 223 | 196 | 52 | 44.6 | 39.2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 2024 | BUF | 3 | 6 | 296 | 219 | 56 | 49.3 | 36.5 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| Career | Career | 9 | 25 | 1,311 | 1,104 | 56 | 46.8 | 38.5 | 0 | 12 | 2 |