Blake Martinez is returning to the NFL after he notably became involved in a Pokémon trading card scandal last year
Linebacker Blake Martinez is returning to the NFL after his somewhat brief retirement by signing with the Carolina Panthers this week. The 29-year-old former fourth-round selection led The League in tackles in 2017. However, he walked away from the game in 2022 to pursue a career selling Pokemon cards online – an effort that went scandalously wrong.
The 6’2″, 240 tackling machine was originally drafted by the Packers and spent three seasons in Green Bay, before playing a couple more with the Giants. He was considered a good defender and solid NFL player but walked away at just the age of 27.
Why would any football player in the prime of their career simply take their exit from the grandest stage of them all? Well… Pokemon of course.
Blake Martinez started a business as a trader and seller of Pokémon cards online that resulted in him eventually being banned from WhatNot, a social media marketplace heavily monitored by collectors.
RELATED: Former NFL Player Blake Martinez Banned From Selling Pokemon On WhatNot App
While it’s still not clear whether or not Blake Martinez knows a Diantha from a Dervish, he does know defense. Carolina head coach watched the linebacker’s workout and commented later that he was someone who had “played a lot of great football.”
The Panthers (1-7) play the Chicago Bears on Thursday night, so it’s doubtful that Martinez will play. He’s only participated in one practice thus far with his new team, and he looks slated to be a part of Carolina’s practice squad, initially.
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