Being disrespected is nothing new to former Nebraska football football quarterback Adrian Martinez. However, what happened to signal caller this week took that disrespect to a whole new level.
Martinez has spent most of his college and professional career having to overcome the odds. He was one of the best quarterbacks to play for the Huskers in the last couple of decades. However, his head coach, Scott Frost didn’t put much help around him.
He then gave an NFL career a shot, but that didn’t work out and he was cut before the end of fall camp last year. Things didn’t work out for him with the Detroit Lions but he managed to reinvent himself again with the UFL. And then things took a turn.
Former Nebraska football star gets honor and benched in the same week
On Saturday, Adrian Martinez thought he was going to continue showing up the rest of the UFL. But it appears Alabama Stallions head coach Skip Holtz didn’t have much confidence he could overcome adversity.
Martinez struggled a bit, completing 10-of-19 passes for 164 yards, 1 TD, and 1 INT while rushing for just 8 yards on 4 carries. He was benched in the second half, despite the fact that he helped build an 18-12 lead over the Michigan Panthers.
The #UFL today announced Birmingham Stallions quarterback Adrian Martinez as the 2024 UFL Most Valuable Player. pic.twitter.com/Fv99Qa1sxN
— UFL Communications Department (@UFL_PR) June 10, 2024
Matt Corral relieved him, and the Stallions won 31-18. Corral’s performance determined who will start the UFL Championship game this Saturday into question. And that’s when things got really weird for Martinez.
He may not start the championship for the team he led to a fantastic season. And on Monday, to add another layer, the former Husker was named the UFL MVP.
The press release announcing he’d won the award laid out how preposterous it was he was benched.
Martinez led the league in rushing with 528 yards, he was No. 3 in passing with over 1,700 yards, and he was No. 2 in total offense with more than 2,200 yards. He also leads the league in touchdowns with 15 passing and 3 rushing.
And yet, he might have to share time with his backup. Who he beat out for the job already once this season. It looks like the former Nebraska football star has to prove his doubters wrong again.