Quan Martin Bio
Jartavius Quan Martin is an American professional football safety for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Illinois Fighting Illini and was selected by the Commanders in the second round of the 2023 NFL draft. Listed at 6 feet 0 inches and 195 pounds, Martin wears jersey number 20 and serves as a starting free safety for the Washington defense.
Born on April 17, 2000, in Lehigh Acres, Florida, Martin goes by his middle name, Quan. Since entering the league, he has appeared in regular season and postseason games for Washington, contributing as a tackler, pass defender, and occasional playmaker in the secondary.
Early Life and Background
Jartavius Quan Martin was born on April 17, 2000, in Lehigh Acres, Florida. He grew up in southwest Florida and attended Lehigh Senior High School, where he played football for the school team. During his high school career, he recorded 38 tackles and two interceptions, establishing himself as a defensive back with ball skills and a willingness to compete in the secondary.
Martin was rated a three-star recruit coming out of Lehigh Senior High School. He received interest from college programs and ultimately committed to play college football for the Fighting Illini at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. His path from a three-star high school prospect to a Big Ten defender reflected steady development rather than early national acclaim.
Path to American Football
Martin arrived at the University of Illinois in 2018 and joined a Fighting Illini program that would eventually produce multiple NFL defensive backs. He moved to cornerback as a freshman and became a starter early in his college career, showing the kind of versatility that has continued to define him as a professional. The Illinois defensive scheme asked him to cover receivers, tackle in space, and play the run from the secondary.
In 2021, Martin was moved back to safety, a position that suited his size and instincts. He finished that season with 55 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, one interception, seven passes broken up, and one forced fumble. He used the extra year of eligibility granted to college athletes in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and returned for a fifth season in 2022, during which he earned Second-team All-Big Ten honors.
Quan Martin Career
Early Career (2023)
The Washington Commanders selected Martin in the second round (47th overall) of the 2023 NFL draft. He was the second safety selected that year, taken after Brian Branch at 45th overall, and he notably became the first of five defensive backs drafted from the same Illinois secondary spanning the 2018 to 2020 recruiting classes. On July 22, 2023, the Commanders signed him to a four-year, $7.63 million rookie contract that included $5.11 million guaranteed and an initial signing bonus of $2.55 million.
Martin entered training camp projected to compete for a role as a starting nickelback against Danny Johnson and was a possible candidate to start at safety alongside Kamren Curl and Darrick Forrest. Defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio had Martin learn safety, cornerback, and nickelback during camp. Although he impressed in practice, he struggled in the preseason, and head coach Ron Rivera listed him as the fifth safety on the depth chart to begin the year.
Commanders Rookie Season (2023)
On September 10, 2023, Martin made his professional regular season debut in the Washington Commanders’ home opener against the Arizona Cardinals, though he was limited to 18 snaps on special teams before leaving for a concussion evaluation in a 20–16 win. He remained inactive the following week and was largely confined to special teams for the first four games. In Week 6, he began earning significant defensive snaps after Darrick Forrest went on injured reserve with a shoulder injury.
In Week 9, Martin recorded one pass deflection and sealed a 20–17 victory at the New England Patriots by making his first career interception on a pass by Mac Jones intended for JuJu Smith-Schuster with 38 seconds remaining. In Week 12, he earned his first career start as a nickelback and recorded two combined tackles in a 10–45 loss at the Dallas Cowboys. On December 17, 2023, he set a season-high with ten combined tackles and recorded his first career sack on Matthew Stafford during a 20–28 loss at the Los Angeles Rams. He finished his rookie season with 46 combined tackles, four pass deflections, two interceptions, and one sack in 16 games and five starts, all of which came at nickelback. He received an overall grade of 65.4 from Pro Football Focus as a rookie.
Starting Free Safety (2024)
In the 2024 offseason, Martin competed for a starting position at safety against Jeremy Chinn, Darrick Forrest, and Percy Butler. New head coach Dan Quinn and defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. selected him to be the starting free safety and paired him with starting strong safety Jeremy Chinn. Martin held the role for the full season and started all 16 games he played.
On October 27, 2024, Martin set a season-high with 11 combined tackles in an 18–15 victory over the Chicago Bears. On December 29, 2024, he made eight combined tackles, set a season-high with two pass deflections, and recorded his lone interception of the season on a pass from Michael Penix Jr. during a 30–24 overtime win against the Atlanta Falcons. He finished 2024 with 87 combined tackles, three pass deflections, and one interception in 16 starts. He received an overall grade of 59.2 from Pro Football Focus, ranking 115th among 171 qualifying safeties.
Postseason and 2025 Season (2025)
On January 12, 2025, Martin started his first career playoff game and recorded four combined tackles in a 23–20 victory at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFC Wild-Card Game. The next week, he made three combined tackles, one pass deflection, and recorded his first career pick-six, intercepting Jared Goff and returning it 40 yards for a touchdown during a 45–31 victory at the Detroit Lions in the Divisional Round. In the NFC Championship Game against the Philadelphia Eagles, he added five combined tackles.
At the start of the 2025 season, Martin was named the starting free safety again opposite Will Harris. His tackling drew criticism during the year, and a Week 4 loss to the Atlanta Falcons featured a missed tackle that contributed to a 15-yard Tyler Allgeier touchdown. In Week 16, he was ejected for throwing a punch after a brawl broke out between the Washington defense and the Philadelphia offense. On the Christmas matchup against the Dallas Cowboys, he was benched by head coach Dan Quinn in the second quarter following a blown coverage that resulted in an 86-yard receiving touchdown by KaVontae Turpin.
Driving Style and Strengths
Martin is a versatile defensive back who has lined up at safety, cornerback, and nickelback at the NFL level. His track-type strengths include run support, open-field tackling, and coverage on slot receivers. Coaches have valued his football IQ and his willingness to take on multiple roles within a single game plan.
Notable Events and Milestones
Martin recorded his first career interception against the New England Patriots in Week 9 of the 2023 season and his first career sack against the Los Angeles Rams later that year. In the 2024 postseason, he notched his first career pick-six against the Detroit Lions, returning an interception 40 yards for a touchdown, and started in the NFC Championship Game against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Quan Martin Career Wins
Martin’s career has been measured less in team championships and more in individual milestones, as the Commanders have not posted a winning record in his first two seasons. His verified highlights include a 20–17 victory at the New England Patriots in 2023 sealed by his first interception, an 18–15 win over the Chicago Bears in 2024, and playoff victories at Tampa Bay and Detroit.
Commanders Highlights
During his time with Washington, Martin has started games at safety and nickelback, contributed on special teams, and played meaningful snaps in three postseason games. His most recent verified win came during the 2024 regular season, and he has continued to start on the Commanders defense into the 2025 season.
Other Wins and Performances
Martin earned Second-team All-Big Ten honors in 2022, a recognition that helped establish his draft stock. He was also a key member of an Illinois secondary that produced five NFL draft picks, including Nate Hobbs, Kerby Joseph, Devon Witherspoon, and Sydney Brown.
Quan Martin Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Martin’s immediate family is limited. He was raised in Lehigh Acres, Florida, and attended Lehigh Senior High School before moving on to the University of Illinois.
Personal Life
Martin goes by his middle name, Quan, rather than his first name, Jartavius. He works as an unofficial team barber for the teams he plays for and learned the trade by watching videos on YouTube during the 2020 COVID-19 lockdowns, a skill that has made him a familiar presence in the Washington locker room.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season has been a difficult stretch for Martin, who returned as the starting free safety opposite Will Harris. His tackling drew public criticism, and missed tackles against the Atlanta Falcons and Chicago Bears were highlighted as factors in losses. A Week 16 ejection for throwing a punch during a brawl with the Philadelphia Eagles further defined a turbulent year, and a Christmas game benching by head coach Dan Quinn after a blown coverage against the Dallas Cowboys signaled a push for better discipline and fundamentals.
Despite the setbacks, Martin has continued to start and play significant snaps for the Washington defense. He finished 2024 with 87 combined tackles and reached the NFC Championship Game in January 2025, experience that should help shape his development moving forward.
Looking ahead, Martin remains under contract with the Commanders through the 2026 season. His outlook hinges on improved tackling consistency and renewed trust from the coaching staff, but his versatility and postseason experience give him a foundation to build on as Washington continues to develop its secondary.