During his decades NFL careerMartin Gramatica played for four different teams.
Gramatica last appeared in an NFL game in 2008, the second year of his two-year stint with the NFL New Orleans Saints.
Gramatica, now 49, opened up about his past when he met with TMZ to discuss his memoir, “Beyond The Uprights: The Intimate Memoir Of Martin Gramatica.”
Gramatica spoke openly about his childhood experiences, particularly the strained relationship he had with his father.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
Retired Tampa Bay Buccaneers kicker Martin Gramatica watches pregame ceremonies during a game against the San Francisco 49ers at Raymond James Stadium on December 15, 2013 in Tampa, Florida. (Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images))
The Super Bowl-winning kicker described his father as ‘insulting’
“I’m talking about a very abusive father,” Gramatica told the outlet.
However, he emphasized that he did not speak or write about his past, but rather sought compassion.
“I want to make sure that people don’t read the book and say, ‘I’m sorry,’ because everything I’ve lived has made me a better person and a better father,” Gramatica said.
Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers kicker Martin Gramatica runs out of the tunnel before a game against the Cleveland Browns at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, August 29, 2015. (Kim Klement/USA Today Sports)
Gramatica said his father was an example of the type of relationship he didn’t want to have with his own children.
“It showed me what not to do with my children. I want to make sure that when someone reads the book and realizes, ‘I have to break this,’ and I want someone to realize it sooner than they did then. “I didn’t realize how bad it was until I had my first son, when Nico was born.”
Nico Gramatica is a placekicker for them South Florida Bulls.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers kicker Martin Gramatica scores a 24-yard field goal in the first quarter at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, on August 23, 2003. (Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)
Martin’s difficult relationship with his father led to an agreement between Martin and his siblings.
“I love this child so much that you think, ‘How can I ever do what my father did to me?’ “That’s what I feel. I talked to my brothers and we made a pact,” Martin noted.
“We haven’t spoken (to our father) since then because we just don’t want this kind of abuse in our family. I have three children. My brother Santiago has two children. So we don’t want something like that in our family.” . That’s what the book is about.”
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Gramatica played for Kansas State before making the jump to the NFL in 1999. He spent the first six seasons of his NFL career with the Tampa Bay BuccaneersIn 2002 he won the Super Bowl with the Bucs.
He finished his professional football career with a field goal percentage of 76.4%.
Follow Fox News Digital Sports coverage of Xand subscribe the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
