Tom Martinez, Longtime Mentor of Tom Brady, Dies on 66th Birthday

by

Feb 21, 2012

Tom Martinez, the longtime quarterback coach of Tom Brady, died Tuesday on his 66th birthday, according to the San Jose Mercury News.

Martinez's health had been declining due to diabetes, and Brady raised public awareness for Martinez in recent months as he searched for a kidney transplant. Their bond had been well-known in California and New England for years, but their story really came to light on a national scale during the Patriots' run to Super Bowl XLVI.

In June 2011, doctors gave Martinez a week to a month to live.

Martinez began working with Brady when the quarterback was in high school, and the two have spent plenty of time during the offseason refining his skills. Brady often sought Martinez's help during the regular season when things weren't going well.

Brady would say Martinez knew more about his game and his mechanics than anyone.

Have a question for Jeff Howe? Send it to him via Twitter at @jeffphowe or send it here. He will pick a few questions to answer every week for his mailbag.

Previous Article

High School Football Star a No-Show at College Announcement, Leaves 600 Waiting Before Choosing Notre Dame

Next Article

Petr Cech: Don’t Blame Andre Villas-Boas for Chelsea’s Struggles, Players Don’t ‘Transport Good Work’ From Practice Into Games

Picked For You