National Football League

Martin on familiar ground with 49ers' Jim Harbaugh

Published Mar. 12, 2014 4:17 p.m. ET

foxsports

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) While there were doubts whether any team would give Jonathan Martin another chance, the NFL coach who knows him best considered it an easy call.

Jim Harbaugh once sat in Martin's living room to recruit him, coached him for three years at Stanford and developed Martin into an All-American and a second-round draft pick, then stood by him from afar as Martin accused a Miami teammate of bullying last year.

Now, Martin is back in a place he can feel safe as he starts over on the football field. Harbaugh's San Francisco 49ers acquired the offensive tackle in a trade with the Dolphins on Tuesday night, with a physical expected as soon as Wednesday or Thursday to finalize the deal.

Martin is the latest player to receive a new start under Harbaugh.

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