Jonathan Martin working on memoir of NFL career, retirement

Former NFL offensive lineman Jonathan Martin is working on a memoir.

Former NFL offensive lineman Jonathan Martin is working on a memoir after retiring earlier this summer.

Atria Books editor Todd Hunter told the Associated Press the publisher agreed to terms with Martin for “The Courage To Walk Away,” co-written by Hilary Beard. The book is tentatively scheduled for spring 2017.

Martin's agent, Steve Ross, told the AP the book deal is worth six figures.

SI.com obtained the following exclusive excerpt from the book proposal:

“I’ll be the first person to admit that I’m not your typical NFL player. My family background is elite. I can trace my lineage to the first African girl to arrive in the Americas on a slave ship.… My parents graduated from Harvard; my maternal grandparents graduated from Harvard; even one of my great-grandfathers graduated from Harvard and was friends with W.E.B. DuBois, one of the 20th century’s most influential thinkers. In all, nine members of my family were Crimson. And I can’t imagine too many people—especially African Americans—who would turn down the chance to attend what many people regard as the world’s most prestigious university, as I did. Yet compared to my other family members, I feel very unimpressive.”

Earlier this week, Martin wrote a lengthy Facebook post in which he said he attempted suicide on multiple occasions during his NFL career. Martin also detailed his struggles with depression and being bullied, dating back to middle school.

Martin, 25, announced his retirement from the NFL earlier this month. He started 16 games for the Miami Dolphins as a rookie in 2012 and started the first seven games of the 2013 season before leaving the team due to harassment from teammates. A Ted Wells investigation determined that three of Martin’s linemates, mainly guard Richie Incognito, “engaged in a pattern of harrassment.”

The Dolphins traded Martin to the San Francisco 49ers prior to the 2014 season, reuniting him with his college coach at Stanford, Jim Harbaugh. He played in 15 games, starting nine, before he was waived in March. The Carolina Panthers claimed him, but Martin later retired after sustaining a back injury.