NFL
Richie Incognito vs. Jonathan Martin: Why Bullygate Is Back
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The 2013 “Bullygate” scandal between Richie Incognito and Jonathan Martin has resurfaced after Martin retracted his previous claims of being bullied. Incognito responded with a series of social media posts, reigniting the controversy.
Why Does Jonathan Martin Say Richie Incognito Didn’t Bully Him?
In a recent ESPN interview, Martin admitted that he never actually believed he was being bullied. He claimed his parents—particularly his mother—played a key role in amplifying the situation, making it seem more serious than he initially thought.
Martin, who left the NFL in 2013 after accusing Incognito of harassment, now says he regrets how the situation unfolded, even calling the NFL’s investigation into the matter a “clown show.”
While he acknowledged that offensive language was used in the Dolphins’ locker room, he insists he didn’t view it as bullying at the time.
Incognito Responds With A Twitter Rant
Incognito wasted no time responding. He took to X (formerly Twitter), blasting Martin, his parents, and the media.
Here’s what Incognito posted:
He couldn’t cut it in the NFL so he quit and his mom blamed me. Legacy media pushed this narrative long and far. Too bad it was all a lie! They lied to protect his money. He quit… the team had every right to claw back that money. His mom started the bullying narrative with @espn… https://t.co/ifFFJPG1H7
— Richie Incognito (@68INCOGNITO) February 16, 2025
Notable excerpt?! You tried to ruin my life over this bullshit @AdamSchefter
— Richie Incognito (@68INCOGNITO) February 16, 2025
- He accused Martin’s family of fabricating the bullying claims to protect Martin’s financial interests.
- He called out the media, specifically Adam Schefter, for ruining his reputation and pushing a false narrative.
- He shared old photos of himself and Martin as teammates, implying they had a friendly relationship.
Incognito also criticized ESPN for continuing to push the story for over a decade, saying the media was complicit in turning the situation into a major scandal.
The NFL’s 2013 Investigation into Richie Incognito & Fallout
At the time, the NFL’s investigation found that Incognito and two other Dolphins players had engaged in a pattern of harassment against Martin. Incognito was suspended for the remainder of the 2013 season and later released by the Dolphins.
Martin left the league shortly after, citing mental health struggles. The scandal painted Incognito as a locker-room bully, while Martin was seen as a victim.
Now, over a decade later, Martin’s change of heart has raised serious questions about how the situation was handled.
Despite this, it is worth noting that Incognito admitted to vile behavior during the investigation, including racially abusing an assistant trainer and leaving voicemails filled with racist slurs directed at Martin.
What Happens Next For Martin and Incognito?
Martin’s retraction won’t erase years of headlines. But it does cast some doubt on how the situation was originally portrayed.
Incognito, for his part, seems more interested in setting the record straight than letting this fade into history. If his social media posts are any indication, he won’t stop calling out the media and Martin’s family anytime soon.
