After four seasons in Westwood, a Bruin is stepping back and leaving the game behind.
Martell Irby joined UCLA football as a young running back from San Diego in 2018, eventually moving to defense in 2021. However, a year later Irby decided to retire from football, he announced on social media via of a song he released. Saturday night titled “This Is Goodbye” (Warning: NSFW).
Before graduating from Morse High School (CA), Irby attended the San Diego School for Creative and Performing Arts, where he was part of the school’s award-winning jazz ensemble. The SoCal native has been playing the saxophone since the fourth grade and producing his own music for years, so there aren’t many other football players who could have announced his retirement the way Irby did.
Irby appeared in all 12 games for UCLA in 2021, amassing 28 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, and a blocked punt. As a running back, Irby played in 20 other games, amassing 221 yards and a touchdown on 55 carries as well as 108 receiving yards on 13 career catches for him.
During this past spring training, Irby was dropped without explanation by coach Chip Kelly. Irby was initially absent entirely before eventually returning to the field in shorts and a hoodie, even working his way back to individual drills on pads by the end of April.
Irby posted on Instagram on April 11 that he had been in a car accident several weeks earlier, just as spring camp was starting.
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That wasn’t the only troubling situation Irby found himself in this spring, as he posted a vlog-style music video on Friday that was paired with a nine-minute explanation of what he’d been going through in recent weeks.
Irby detailed the mental health issues he’s been dealing with lately, culminating in a story where he left behind his phone, computer, keys and camera to venture around Los Angeles with no destination. The UCLA coaching staff tried to call him earlier in the day when he didn’t show up for practice, but said he chose not to respond and his condition only worsened when staff called his mother to try to get in touch. with the. through her
After arriving at his apartment several hours later, Irby went to the airport the next morning and flew home to reconnect with his family. Irby said that was where he recognized that he had people in his circle who really cared about him, and he spoke at length about the importance of being open with those closest to him during the most difficult times.
Irby decided shortly after his trip home that he would retire from football. However, he said that he plans to continue working on his music career and his YouTube channel. television television.
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