In his newly released memoir, "Beyond The Uprights: The Intimate Memoir Of Martin Gramatica," former NFL kicker Martin Gramatica reveals the difficulties he faced growing up with an abusive father. Gramatica, who played for four different teams over his 10-year NFL career, last played in 2008 with the New Orleans Saints. Now 49, he shared his story with TMZ, emphasizing that his intention isn't to garner sympathy, but to inspire others to break the cycle of abuse.

Gramatica described his father's behavior as abusive, explaining that his experiences shaped him into the person and father he is today. He wants readers to understand that his past struggles ultimately made him stronger, and he hopes his story will encourage others to recognize and address similar situations in their own lives. He doesn't want anyone to feel sorry for him, but rather to learn from his experiences.

The Super Bowl champion kicker explained that his father’s actions served as a stark example of what he didn't want to replicate in his relationship with his own children. The birth of his son, Nico, a current placekicker for the South Florida Bulls, brought this realization into sharp focus. This prompted a pact between Martin and his siblings to break the cycle of abuse, leading to their decision to cease communication with their father to protect their own families.

Gramatica began his football career at Kansas State before joining the NFL in 1999. He played six seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, winning a Super Bowl in 2002. He finished his NFL career with a 76.4% field goal percentage.