Adrian Martinez: Who Is He?
Adrian Martinez is an American football quarterback currently listed on the San Francisco 49ers roster. The 26-year-old QB stands 6-foot-2 and weighs 220 pounds. He played college football at both Nebraska and Kansas State before beginning his professional career as an undrafted free agent.
Martinez has taken an unusual route to the NFL. After entering the league with the Detroit Lions in 2023, he later spent time with the New York Jets before joining San Francisco. His development has also included a successful run in the United Football League, where he became the 2024 UFL MVP with the Birmingham Stallions.
His current opportunity with the 49ers has put him back in the spotlight, particularly during the 2026 preseason.
Is Adrian Martinez a Quarterback?
Yes. Adrian Martinez is a quarterback.
The 49ers officially list Martinez as a QB, No. 4, on their roster. His athletic ability also makes him a dual-threat option because he has been productive as both a passer and runner throughout his football career.
At Nebraska and Kansas State, Martinez appeared in 49 games and made 47 starts. He completed 788 of 1,239 passes for a 63.6% completion rate, throwing 51 touchdown passes. He also rushed 619 times for 2,928 yards and 45 touchdowns.
Those numbers show why Martinez has remained an intriguing quarterback prospect despite going undrafted.
Adrian Martinez College Stats
Martinez began his college career at Nebraska, where he played from 2018 through 2021. He transferred to Kansas State for his final college season in 2022.
His overall college production included:
- Games: 49
- Starts: 47
- Completions: 788
- Pass attempts: 1,239
- Completion percentage: 63.6%
- Passing touchdowns: 51
- Rushing attempts: 619
- Rushing yards: 2,928
- Rushing touchdowns: 45
The 49ers note that Martinez received All-Big 12 honorable mention recognition as a senior at Kansas State.
His ability to create yards with his legs has been one of the defining characteristics of his game.
Adrian Martinez UFL Career
Before establishing himself in the NFL system, Martinez became one of the UFL’s most productive quarterbacks.
In 2024 with Birmingham, he played seven regular-season games and helped lead the Stallions to a strong season. He completed 134 of 229 attempts for 1,748 yards, 15 touchdowns and only three interceptions. He also rushed for 528 yards and three touchdowns.
The UFL named Martinez its 2024 MVP, an important milestone in his professional career. The league later highlighted him as one of its leading performers during that championship season.
That UFL success helped keep his NFL ambitions alive.
Adrian Martinez NFL Career
Martinez originally signed with the Detroit Lions as an undrafted free agent on May 12, 2023. Detroit waived him in August of that year.
He then signed with the New York Jets in July 2024 and spent the 2024 season on their practice squad. He was subsequently waived by New York in August 2025.
San Francisco became another important stop in his career. Martinez has continued competing for opportunities in the 49ers quarterback room and is currently listed on the team’s roster.
Adrian Martinez 2026 Preseason Stats
Martinez has received significant preseason opportunities for San Francisco in 2026.
In the preseason opener against the Tennessee Titans on August 13, Martinez completed 16 of 30 passes for 159 yards. He also rushed twice for 18 yards according to the NFL’s official game log.
The 49ers’ official recap also credited him with a 10-yard scramble and noted that he took over after Kurtis Rourke left the game with a rib injury.
Martinez then played against the Los Angeles Chargers in the 49ers’ second preseason game on August 20. He helped San Francisco close out a 41-17 victory, including a rushing touchdown and a touchdown pass to Jordan Watkins.
That performance was particularly notable because Martinez took over at quarterback during the second half and produced multiple scoring plays.
Is Adrian Martinez Playing Today?
No, Adrian Martinez is not playing today, Friday, August 21, 2026.
The San Francisco 49ers played their second preseason game against the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday, August 20. San Francisco won that game 41-17, with Martinez contributing during the game.
Therefore, fans searching “Is Adrian Martinez playing today?” should know that he already played Thursday night rather than Friday.
The NFL preseason continues through the weekend, but that does not mean Martinez has a game scheduled today. His next opportunity to play will depend on San Francisco’s remaining preseason schedule and the team’s quarterback rotation.
Adrian Martinez Ethnicity
Questions about Adrian Martinez’s ethnicity have increased as his profile has grown.
There are online reports describing Martinez as having a multiracial family background, but the San Francisco 49ers’ official biography does not provide a specific ethnicity classification. Because of that, it is better not to present an unverified ancestry claim as an established fact.
What is established is that Martinez is American and was born in Fresno, California. The 49ers’ official biography identifies Fresno as his hometown and details his college path through Nebraska and Kansas State.
Adrian Martinez Playing Style
Martinez’s biggest strength is his ability to contribute in more than one way.
As a passer, he has demonstrated the ability to make accurate throws from the pocket and on the move. His college career produced more than 11,000 combined passing and rushing yards, along with 96 total touchdowns based on the figures listed by the 49ers.
His rushing ability is particularly valuable. He recorded 2,928 rushing yards and 45 rushing touchdowns during his college career, showing that he can turn broken plays into significant gains.
That dual-threat ability can be useful for an NFL team looking for depth at quarterback.
Adrian Martinez and the 49ers QB Competition
Martinez’s position in San Francisco’s quarterback room has been one of the storylines of the 2026 preseason.
Brock Purdy remains the established starter, while Mac Jones is also part of the quarterback group. Martinez has been competing for opportunities behind them, while Kurtis Rourke has also been involved in the battle. A preseason report identified Rourke and Martinez as competitors for the third-string quarterback role.
That makes every preseason snap important for Martinez.
His experience in Nebraska, Kansas State, the UFL and multiple NFL organizations gives him a relatively broad football résumé. However, roster decisions ultimately depend on performance, health, depth-chart needs and the coaching staff’s evaluation.
Adrian Martinez Career Outlook
Martinez’s career illustrates how an NFL quarterback can take a less traditional route toward establishing himself.
He was not selected in the NFL Draft, but he continued developing through different professional opportunities. His UFL MVP season demonstrated his ability to perform at a high level, while his NFL experience has given him exposure to several offensive systems.
Now with San Francisco, Martinez has another opportunity to demonstrate that he can be trusted as NFL quarterback depth.
His mobility remains a major asset. If he continues improving his consistency as a passer while maintaining his rushing threat, he can remain a valuable option in the 49ers’ quarterback competition.
Final Takeaway
Adrian Martinez is a San Francisco 49ers quarterback with a strong dual-threat résumé. He played at Nebraska and Kansas State, became a UFL MVP with Birmingham and later earned NFL opportunities with the Lions, Jets and 49ers.
His 2026 preseason has already included meaningful action. Against Tennessee, he completed 16 of 30 passes for 159 yards, while against the Chargers he helped San Francisco finish a 41-17 victory with a rushing touchdown and a touchdown pass.
As of Friday, August 21, 2026, Martinez is not playing today, because the 49ers played the Chargers on Thursday night.
FAQs
Who is Adrian Martinez?
Adrian Martinez is a 26-year-old American football quarterback on the San Francisco 49ers roster. He played college football at Nebraska and Kansas State.
Is Adrian Martinez a QB?
Yes. Martinez is a quarterback and is listed as QB No. 4 by the San Francisco 49ers.
What are Adrian Martinez’s 2026 preseason stats?
In the preseason opener against Tennessee, Martinez completed 16 of 30 passes for 159 yards and rushed for 18 yards.
Is Adrian Martinez playing today?
No. The 49ers played the Los Angeles Chargers on August 20, 2026, so Martinez does not have a game with San Francisco today, August 21.
What is Adrian Martinez’s ethnicity?
The 49ers’ official biography does not specify his ethnicity. Online reports make broader ancestry claims, but those should be treated cautiously unless confirmed by Martinez or a reliable primary source.
Where did Adrian Martinez play college football?
He played at Nebraska from 2018-21 and Kansas State in 2022.
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