Jonathan Martin Retires: Latest Details, Comments and Reaction

Offensive tackle Jonathan Martin recently suffered a back injury that put his 2015 season in doubt, and the 25-year-old has elected to not suit up in the NFL altogether in light of his circumstances.

NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport reported Monday that Martin made the decision to retire after only three years in the league due to an ailing back that will require surgery.

Fox Sports' Mike Garafolo confirmed Martin will retire and added that a recent workout led to his injury, with Martin told to halt all physical activity for at least six weeks.

Martin was the No. 42 overall pick in the 2012 draft. After an excellent college career at Stanford, where he was a two-time All-American, the second-rounder started all 16 games for the Miami Dolphins as a rookie but struggled to acclimate. Pro Football Focus rated him 76th out of 80 tackles who played at least 300 snaps that year (h/t the San Francisco Chronicle).

An ugly bullying scandal that stretched back as far as Martin's first year in Miami came to light and caused him to leave the Dolphins after starting seven games in 2013.

An opportunity for a fresh start came in the form of the San Francisco 49ers. Martin reunited with his college coach, Jim Harbaugh, and appeared in 15 contests last season, starting nine for a Niners team that missed the playoffs for the first and only time under Harbaugh.

San Francisco waived him in late March, but the Carolina Panthers claimed him in hopes of shoring up a depleted offensive line. Brent Sobleski of Bleacher Report was skeptical Martin could make an impact:

He nevertheless seemed to feel confident about his outlook with his third team in as many years.

"I think that's always your intention as a football player," said Martin about the possibility of starting for the Panthers, per the Charlotte Observer's Joseph Person. "If your goal isn't to be the best every time you step on the field, then you really have no business being in this business. I'm looking forward to competing with these guys and showing them what I can do."

The chance appeared to be there for Martin to compete for a starting spot until his back injury abruptly derailed his career..

He leaves behind an enigmatic legacy in the NFL if this is indeed the end for him. Had the bullying in Miami not gone on, perhaps Martin would have lived up to his rather high billing, especially since he came from a pro-style offense at Stanford.

With such a solid foundation in a complicated system, it was easy to get the impression that Martin would manage to bounce back—even with the unique, unpleasant circumstances that surrounded him in South Beach. Now that his long-term health is in jeopardy, his redemption on the gridiron may never be fully realized.