Adrian Martinez, who originally joined the Lions as an undrafted free agent in 2023, has signed with the New York Jets practice squad after being let go by the San Francisco 49ers. The mobile quarterback continues his NFL journey after brief stints with multiple teams and an impressive run in the UFL.
Adrian Martinez Returns to the New York Jets
Martinez first entered the NFL with the Lions, facing long odds in a crowded quarterback room that included Jared Goff and rookie Hendon Hooker, who was still recovering from a torn ACL at the time.
Although Martinez did not make Detroit’s final roster, his professional career took off the following year in the United Football League (UFL). Playing for the Birmingham Stallions, Martinez delivered a standout season:
1,750 passing yards
15 passing touchdowns
3 interceptions
530 rushing yards
3 rushing touchdowns
His performance earned him All-UFL honors and UFL Championship MVP, leading the Stallions to a league title.
That success helped Martinez earn another NFL chance, signing with the San Francisco 49ers during the season after an injury to Brock Purdy. While he did not see meaningful game action beyond a kneel-down, Martinez now returns to the Jets, a team out of playoff contention that could use the remaining weeks to evaluate young talent.
Lions Also Move On From Hendon Hooker
The Lions ultimately moved on from Hendon Hooker as well, releasing the former third-round pick before the start of the season. Hooker later signed with the Carolina Panthers but was released in November and remains without a new NFL home.
Jared Goff and Lions Face High-Stakes Matchup vs. Rams
Detroit has rarely needed backup quarterbacks thanks to the durability and consistency of Jared Goff, who has led the Lions to back-to-back NFC North titles.
Now, the Lions face a crucial matchup against Goff’s former team, the Los Angeles Rams, with playoff implications on the line. Goff downplayed any lingering emotions from the blockbuster 2021 trade that sent Matthew Stafford to Los Angeles.
“It feels like a long time ago… I’ve spent more time here,” Goff told reporters.
“Now it’s even further removed.”
The Lions and Rams are no strangers, with Detroit famously eliminating Los Angeles from the playoffs in 2023 en route to the NFC Championship Game.
As Detroit fights to keep its postseason hopes alive, the spotlight remains on Goff—while former Lions quarterbacks like Adrian Martinez continue searching for long-term NFL footing elsewhere.
