Dallas Cowboys: 30 greatest players in franchise history
Defensive End. (1973-1983). Harvey Martin. 22. player. 123.
A native of Dallas, defensive end Harvey Martin was the Cowboys selection in the third round of the 1973 NFL Draft out of East Texas State. Sharpening his skills against Hall of Fame offensive tackle Rayfield Wright, Martin posted 9.0 sacks his rookie season.
Martin would go on to lead the Cowboys in sacks seven times during his 11-year career. According to the team’s own records, the talented pass rusher racked up a whopping 114.0 sacks (just three behind DeMarcus Ware) during his pro career, including an unofficial 23.0 sacks in 1977.
If the latter is accurate, that would make Martin the NFL’s record holder for most sacks in a single season. Unfortunately, the league did not start officially tracking sacks until 1982.
Accolades for Martin include four Pro Bowl bids and four All-Pro nominations. In 1977, Harvey was awarded the NFL Defensive Player of the Year and would go on to be named Co-MVP of the Super Bowl (along with defensive tackle Randy White), helping lead the Cowboys to a championship victory over the Denver Broncos.
Harvey recorded 2.0 sacks and a pass deflection in Super Bowl XII as the pressure applied by the talented Doomsday defense forced Broncos’ quarterback Craig Morton (formerly of the Cowboys) to throw four interceptions. Morton would complete just four of his 15 passes in the championship game.
Inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame, many believe Harvey Martin belongs in the Cowboys Ring of Honor as well. Unfortunately, that honor will now have to come posthumously as Martin died of pancreatic cancer in 2001 at the age of 51.