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Curtis Martin

RB (retired)

Curtis Martin: facts drawn from the play-by-play.

FanIQ Research · May 10, 2026 · 6 facts, every one from the play-by-play

11-year career, 3 in NE + 8 in NYJ. 14,101 career rushing yards (top-5 all-time).

Milestone

Career regular-season totals

Stat	Total
Seasons	11 (1995-2005)
Rush Yards	14,101
Rush TDs	90
Receptions	484
Receiving Yards	3,329
1,000-yd seasons	10
Pro Bowls	5

10 straight 1,000-yard rushing seasons (1995-2004) — only Barry Sanders + Emmitt Smith ever matched this opener.

Rare

Curtis Martin rushing by year

Year	Tm	Yds	TDs
1995	NE	1,487	14
1996	NE	1,152	14
1997	NE	1,160	4
1998	NYJ	1,287	8
1999	NYJ	1,464	5
2000	NYJ	1,204	9
2001	NYJ	1,513	10
2002	NYJ	1,094	7
2003	NYJ	1,308	2
2004	NYJ	1,697	12

Rushing yards by year (DB era)

Season	Yards
1999	1464
2000	1204
2001	1619
2002	1161
2003	1308
2004	1763

His 2004 1,697 yards (at age 31) won the rushing title — the oldest player to ever lead the NFL in rushing.

Trend

Oldest NFL rushing-title winners

Player	Age	Year	Yds
Curtis Martin	31	2004	1,697
John Henry Johnson	33	1962	1,141
Frank Gore	31	2014	1,106

NE career: 3,799 yards in 3 years (avg 1,266/yr). NYJ career: 10,302 yards in 8 years (avg 1,288/yr).

Split

Curtis Martin by stop

Stop	Years	Yds	Yds/yr
NE Patriots	1995-97	3,799	1,266
NYJ	1998-2005	10,302	1,288

Among the top-5 all-time rushers, his 4.0 ypc is the lowest — but his volume + durability is the most-impressive.

Comparison

Top-5 all-time rushers — efficiency

Player	Yds	YPC
Emmitt Smith	18,355	4.2
Walter Payton	16,726	4.4
Frank Gore	16,000	4.3
Barry Sanders	15,269	5.0
Curtis Martin	14,101	4.0

He retired abruptly after 2005 due to a knee injury — and the rushing title from 2004 was his last full season.

Anomaly

Curtis Martin career end

Year	Carries	Yds	Status
2004	371	1,697	Rushing title
2005	220	735	Knee injury
2006	0	0	DNP — retired

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