If you followed the Green Bay Packers between 2016 and 2019, you saw number 50 literally everywhere. Blake Martinez wasn't just a linebacker; he was a heat-seeking missile for whoever happened to be holding the football. In an era where the Packers' defense often felt like it was held together by duct tape and prayers, Martinez was the steady, metronomic heartbeat in the middle.
But then, he just... stopped.
He didn't stop because he was "washed." He didn't stop because he couldn't find a job. Honestly, the story of Green Bay Packers Blake Martinez is one of the weirdest, most fascinating arcs in modern sports history. It’s a tale that involves leading the league in tackles, a devastating ACL tear, a $672,000 Pikachu card, and a sudden retirement that left fans scratching their heads.
The Machine in the Middle: The Packers Years
The Packers grabbed Martinez out of Stanford in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL Draft. Nobody expected him to become the tackle vacuum he eventually turned into. He wasn't the flashiest guy on the field. He didn't have the blazing speed of a Roquan Smith or the bone-crushing hit power of a Ray Lewis.
What he had was a brain.
Basically, Martinez was the "quarterback" of the defense. He knew where the play was going before the running back did. From 2017 to 2019, he was a statistical monster. Check these numbers out: in 2017, he co-led the entire NFL in tackles with 144. Then he did it again—144 in 2018. In 2019, his final year in Green Bay, he racked up 155.
Some critics called them "empty calories." They argued he made tackles five yards downfield rather than at the line of scrimmage. But if you ask anyone who actually played with him, they'll tell you he was the only thing stopping big gains from becoming touchdowns. He was the ultimate "safe" player.
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The Payday and the Pain
When his rookie deal ended, the Packers let him walk. It hurt fans, but it’s just business. Martinez signed a massive three-year, $30 million contract with the New York Giants in 2020. He proved he wasn't just a product of the Green Bay system, putting up 151 tackles in his first year in the Big Apple.
Then, disaster struck.
Week 3 of the 2021 season. A torn ACL. For a guy who relies on his "processing power" and lateral movement, that’s a career-threatening blow. He worked his way back, but the Giants released him in late 2022. He landed with the Las Vegas Raiders, played a few games, and then—on a random Thursday in November—he quit.
At 28 years old.
From Sacking QBs to Pulling Charizards
This is where things get truly bizarre. Martinez didn't retire to go into coaching or broadcasting. He retired to sell Pokémon cards.
Seriously.
He founded a company called "Blake’s Breaks." While most retired players are golfing or opening car dealerships, Martinez was on a livestreaming app called Whatnot, tearing open booster packs for thousands of viewers. He told CNBC that his business brought in over $11 million in revenue in less than a year.
He even sold a rare "Illustrator Pikachu" card for $672,000.
Think about that. One piece of cardboard earned him more than some NFL players make in a season after taxes. He famously said his "fingers hurt" from opening packs more than his back hurt from hitting 230-pound running backs. It seemed like the ultimate "work smarter, not harder" success story.
The Scandal and the Short-Lived Comeback
It wasn't all sunshine and holographics, though. In 2023, Martinez’s company was hit with major allegations of "scamming." Users on Reddit and YouTube pointed out shady behavior on his livestreams, specifically accusing his staff of swapping out packs or manipulating "energy" games to ensure viewers didn't win the big prizes.
Whatnot didn't mess around. They permanently banned Blake’s Breaks from the platform.
Suddenly, the "Pokémon King" was out of a kingdom.
Maybe that’s why he tried to come back. In late 2023, Martinez signed with the Carolina Panthers' practice squad and eventually landed with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He played one game, recorded four tackles, and then retired again in early 2024. It felt like a man trying to find his footing after a whirlwind couple of years.
The Real Legacy of Blake Martinez in Green Bay
When we look back at the career of Green Bay Packers Blake Martinez, we shouldn't just focus on the cards or the controversy. In Green Bay, he was the model of consistency. He played 61 games for the Packers and started 57 of them.
He was the "Boar." (That was his nickname, by the way).
He gave the Packers stability during a defensive transition from Dom Capers to Mike Pettine. He was the guy who wore the "green dot" helmet and made sure everyone was lined up correctly. While he might not be headed for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, his 512 total tackles in a Packers uniform rank him among the most productive linebackers in franchise history.
What You Can Learn From the Martinez Saga
- Financial Diversification: Martinez used his $28 million in career NFL earnings to fund a passion. Even if the execution was flawed, the mindset of building a business while still young is something every athlete should emulate.
- The "Processor" Advantage: You don't have to be the fastest person in the room if you're the smartest. Martinez's ability to diagnose plays made him millions.
- Reputation is Fragile: Whether he was personally involved in the card-swapping scandal or just a bad manager, his brand took a massive hit. In business, who you hire is just as important as what you sell.
If you're looking for a jersey to wear to Lambeau that represents hard work and high football IQ, you could do a lot worse than a dusty number 50. Blake Martinez was a tackling machine who chose a different path—one that reminds us that there's a whole world outside the white lines of the gridiron, even if that world is filled with pocket monsters.
To stay updated on what former Packers are doing in their post-NFL lives, keep an eye on official alumni reports and local Green Bay beat writers like those at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. They often catch the stories that national media misses.