He played college football for the LSU Tigers from 1981 to 1984 and professionally for the New Orleans Saints from 1985 to 1993 and the Kansas City Chiefs in 1994.
Martin's best season came during his junior year in 1983 when he had 1,064 receiving, which at the time was the 3rd best single-season performance in SEC history.
Martin finished his career at LSU with ten 100-yard-receiving games, including four as a sophomore in 1982 and four as a junior in 1983.
In 1987, he helped lead the Saints to their first playoff appearance in franchise history, only to lose to the Minnesota Vikings 44–10 in the NFC Wildcard.
He ranks fourth behind Marques Colston Joe Horn and Michael Thomas with most 100-yard receiving games with 18.