Who Is Adrian Martinez?
Adrian Martinez is a professional football quarterback from Fresno, California. He was born on January 7, 2000, and developed into one of the more experienced dual-threat quarterbacks in college football during his time at Nebraska and Kansas State.
The 49ers list Martinez as a 26-year-old quarterback with two years of NFL experience. Before reaching San Francisco, he signed with Detroit as an undrafted free agent in 2023 and later spent time with the Jets.
Martinez was highly regarded coming out of high school. At Clovis West, he became a major recruiting prospect and was ranked No. 56 in the ESPN300 for the 2018 class. He ultimately chose Nebraska over several other scholarship offers.
Adrian Martinez NFL Career
Martinez entered the NFL without being selected in the draft.
The Detroit Lions signed him as an undrafted free agent on May 12, 2023. He was later waived by Detroit on August 28, 2023.
His next opportunity came with the New York Jets. Martinez signed with the Jets on July 27, 2024, and spent the 2024 season on their practice squad. The Jets waived him on August 24, 2025.
Martinez subsequently joined the San Francisco 49ers. He became part of a quarterback room that has included Brock Purdy and other NFL veterans.
The move gave Martinez another opportunity to develop within a system led by head coach Kyle Shanahan.
Adrian Martinez and the 49ers
Martinez is currently listed on the San Francisco 49ers roster as a quarterback.
The team’s official profile lists him at 6-foot-2, 220 pounds and identifies Kansas State as his college.
His role has primarily been that of a reserve quarterback, giving the 49ers another mobile option behind their established starters.
Martinez has also received preseason opportunities. In the 2025 preseason opener against Green Bay, he completed 11 of 16 passes for 152 yards and one touchdown while adding 13 rushing yards on two attempts. He finished that game with a 119.8 passer rating.
Those performances showed why Martinez remains an intriguing developmental quarterback. His ability to contribute with both his arm and legs gives him versatility in preseason and practice situations.
Adrian Martinez NFL Stats
Martinez has limited regular-season NFL statistics because he has spent much of his professional career developing on practice squads and competing for roster opportunities.
According to NFL.com, he appeared in one regular-season game for San Francisco in 2025. He did not record a passing attempt and finished with one rushing attempt for minus-1 yard.
NFL Regular-Season Stats
| Category | Career |
|---|---|
| Games | 1 |
| Starts | 0 |
| Passing attempts | 0 |
| Passing yards | 0 |
| Passing TDs | 0 |
| Interceptions | 0 |
| Rushing attempts | 1 |
| Rushing yards | -1 |
| Rushing TDs | 0 |
The numbers do not fully represent Martinez’s ability because most of his professional playing opportunities have come during preseason competition rather than regular-season games.
Adrian Martinez Preseason Stats
Martinez has shown more statistical production in preseason action.
During the 2025 preseason, he played in three games. Against Green Bay, he completed 11 of 16 passes for 152 yards and a touchdown. Against the New York Giants, he completed 12 of 21 attempts for 114 yards with one interception. Against Philadelphia, he completed 7 of 14 attempts for 86 yards with one interception.
Across those three games, Martinez completed 30 of 51 passes for 352 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.
He also demonstrated his mobility, rushing for 26 yards on three recorded attempts during those preseason games.
Adrian Martinez College
Martinez played college football at two schools: Nebraska and Kansas State.
He began his college career with Nebraska in 2018 and played for the Cornhuskers through the 2021 season. He then transferred to Kansas State for his senior season in 2022.
The 49ers’ official biography credits Martinez with appearing in 49 college games, including 47 starts. He completed 788 of 1,239 passing attempts for a 63.6% completion rate, throwing 51 touchdowns. He also rushed 619 times for 2,928 yards and 45 touchdowns.
That combination makes Martinez one of the more productive dual-threat quarterbacks of his college era.
Adrian Martinez at Nebraska
Martinez made an immediate impact at Nebraska.
As a freshman in 2018, he completed 224 of 347 passes for 2,617 yards and 17 touchdowns. He also rushed for 629 yards and eight touchdowns.
His dual-threat ability continued throughout his Nebraska career.
In 2020, Martinez completed 71.5% of his passes for 1,055 yards and four touchdowns. He also rushed for 521 yards and seven touchdowns. Nebraska’s official records identify the 71.5% completion percentage as a school season record.
His 2021 campaign was particularly productive. Martinez passed for 2,863 yards and 14 touchdowns while adding 525 rushing yards and 13 rushing touchdowns. He averaged 308 yards of total offense per game that season.
Nebraska’s official records credit him with numerous school achievements, including career total-offense records and four seasons with at least 1,000 passing yards. He also became a four-time team captain.
Nebraska Career Stats
Martinez finished his four seasons at Nebraska with:
- 39 games played
- 670 completions
- 1,055 passing attempts
- 8,491 passing yards
- 45 passing touchdowns
- 30 interceptions
- 508 rushing attempts
- 2,301 rushing yards
- 35 rushing touchdowns
Those figures highlight just how important his legs were to his game.
Adrian Martinez at Kansas State
After four seasons at Nebraska, Martinez transferred to Kansas State for the 2022 season.
The Wildcats used his athletic ability in a balanced offensive system. Martinez was capable of making plays as a passer while also being a dangerous runner.
In 10 games in 2022, he completed 118 of 184 passes for 1,261 yards, six touchdowns and one interception. He also rushed for 627 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Kansas State recognized him with All-Big 12 honorable mention honors. The school also lists him as an honorable-mention Big 12 Offensive Newcomer of the Year and credits him with conference and national weekly honors during the season.
His time at Kansas State helped strengthen his reputation as a mobile quarterback who could create problems outside the pocket.
Adrian Martinez College Stats
Martinez’s complete college career statistics show the scale of his production.
According to Sports-Reference, he finished with 9,752 passing yards and 51 passing touchdowns while completing 63.6% of his attempts. He added 2,928 rushing yards and 45 rushing touchdowns.
College Career
| Category | Career |
| Games | 49 |
| Starts | 47 |
| Completions | 788 |
| Attempts | 1,239 |
| Completion percentage | 63.6% |
| Passing yards | 9,752 |
| Passing TDs | 51 |
| Interceptions | 31 |
| Rushing attempts | 619 |
| Rushing yards | 2,928 |
| Rushing TDs | 45 |
Martinez therefore accounted for more than 12,600 yards of passing and rushing production during his college career.
What Type of Quarterback Is Adrian Martinez?
Martinez’s biggest characteristic is his dual-threat ability.
He can operate from the pocket, but he is also capable of turning broken plays into positive yardage with his legs. That skill was evident throughout his Nebraska and Kansas State careers.
His rushing statistics are particularly notable for a quarterback. Martinez finished college with 45 rushing touchdowns, in addition to his 51 passing touchdowns.
That makes him a useful developmental option for an NFL team because he can give an offense a different look.
His experience in multiple offensive systems is another positive. He played under different coaching staffs at Nebraska and Kansas State before beginning his NFL development with Detroit, the Jets and San Francisco.
Adrian Martinez Football Style
Martinez’s football style can be described as athletic, mobile and experienced.
He has enough size to withstand contact while running the ball, and his college career demonstrated an ability to contribute as both a passer and runner.
His 2021 season at Nebraska provides a strong example. He threw for 2,863 yards while rushing for 525 yards and 13 touchdowns.
At Kansas State, his rushing production increased. He ran for 627 yards and 10 touchdowns in only 10 games.
For the 49ers, that mobility can be valuable in practice and preseason situations, particularly when the coaching staff wants a quarterback capable of executing designed runs or extending plays.
Why Adrian Martinez Is Still an Interesting NFL QB
Martinez’s NFL career has taken longer to develop than that of many quarterbacks selected in the draft.
However, his college résumé gives him a strong foundation.
He played 49 college games and started 47. He also accumulated significant experience in two major college conferences.
His NFL journey has also required patience. Instead of entering the league as a drafted quarterback with a guaranteed roster opportunity, he had to compete as an undrafted player.
That makes his continued presence in the NFL notable.
Adrian Martinez’s NFL Future
The biggest question surrounding Martinez is whether he can turn his preseason and practice opportunities into a larger regular-season role.
The 49ers currently list him as an active quarterback, giving him an opportunity to continue developing within the organization.
At 26 years old, Martinez still has valuable football experience and athletic ability. His college production shows that he understands how to operate a quarterback-run offense, while his years moving through NFL organizations have exposed him to professional systems.
His path to becoming a full-time NFL starter would be difficult, but backup and developmental opportunities remain realistic possibilities.
Adrian Martinez FAQs
Is Adrian Martinez in the NFL?
Yes. Adrian Martinez is an NFL quarterback currently listed on the San Francisco 49ers roster.
What position does Adrian Martinez play?
Martinez plays quarterback. The 49ers list him as QB No. 4.
What college did Adrian Martinez attend?
Martinez attended Nebraska from 2018 through 2021 before transferring to Kansas State for the 2022 season.
What are Adrian Martinez’s college stats?
He finished his college career with 9,752 passing yards, 51 passing touchdowns, 2,928 rushing yards and 45 rushing touchdowns. He completed 63.6% of his passes.
Did Adrian Martinez get drafted?
No. Martinez entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent when he signed with the Detroit Lions in May 2023.
How tall is Adrian Martinez?
The San Francisco 49ers list Martinez at 6-foot-2 and 220 pounds.
Is Adrian Martinez a dual-threat quarterback?
Yes. His college statistics clearly show his ability as a runner as well as a passer. He finished college with 2,928 rushing yards and 45 rushing touchdowns.
Final Take
Adrian Martinez has built an unusual NFL journey through persistence and versatility. He established himself as a productive dual-threat quarterback at Nebraska, transferred to Kansas State and continued to produce before entering the NFL as an undrafted free agent.
His professional career has taken him from the Lions to the Jets and eventually to the 49ers. While his regular-season NFL statistics remain limited, his preseason performances have provided glimpses of the athletic ability that made him successful in college.
For now, Martinez remains an intriguing quarterback to watch in San Francisco. His combination of experience, mobility and college production gives him a foundation as he continues to pursue a larger role in the NFL.
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