Jerome Mathis

Jerome Alvon Mathis (born July 26, 1983 ) is a former American and Canadian football wide receiver and kick returner who played in both the National Football League (NFL) and the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football for Hampton University. He was drafted by the Houston Texans in the fourth round of the 2005 NFL Draft, and he has also played for the Washington Redskins. He earned a Pro Bowl selection and was an All-Pro with the Texans in 2005.

Jerome Mathis
No. 13
Position:Wide receiver
Personal information
Born: (1983-07-26) July 26, 1983
Petersburg, Virginia
Height:5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight:184 lb (83 kg)
Career information
High school:Petersburg (VA)
College:Hampton
NFL Draft:2005 / Round: 4 / Pick: 114
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Receptions:6
Receiving yards:80
Return yards:2,122
Total touchdowns:4
Player stats at NFL.com

Early years

Mathis attended Petersburg High School in Petersburg, where he was an all-state, all-district and all-metro wide receiver and kick returner.

Track and field

Mathis left high school as a six time state champion in track, winning the 2001 national indoor 200 meter title, and setting the 7th fastest time in the nation with 21.79 seconds, at the Nike Classic. He also set the joint 5th fastest 55 metres time in the nation that year with 6.29 seconds, faster than Tyson Gay, and the 2nd fastest 300 meter indoor time with 34.03 seconds.[1]

Mathis also competed in the long jump, posting a personal best of 7.50 meters at Landover, Maryland in 2003.

Personal bests
Event Time (seconds) Venue Date
60 meters 6.93 Landover, Idaho January 4, 2003
100 meters 10.49 Orlando, Florida May 8, 2003
200 meters 20.32 Gainesville, Florida May 29, 2004
400 meters 46.06 University Park, Virginia January 31, 2004
Event Mark (meters) Venue Date
Long Jump 7.50 Landover, Maryland February 22, 2003

College career

Mathis holds the NCAA record for career kick return average, breaking the record set by John Taylor of Delaware State University, with an average of 26.6 yards per return. He also holds the NCAA record for career kickoff returns for a touchdown with six.

Professional career

2005 NFL Combine

Mathis recorded the third fastest, 40 time (4.26 seconds) ever at the NFL Combine, which was broken by Chris Johnson in 2008 and John Ross in 2017. His time was tied by Dri Archer in 2014.[2]

Houston Texans

In his rookie season with the Texans, he was selected to the Pro Bowl for the AFC to be their starter as a kick returner. He was one of three rookies (Shawne Merriman, linebacker, of the San Diego Chargers and Lofa Tatupu, linebacker, of the Seattle Seahawks, being the others) selected to be participants in the game.

Mathis fractured his left foot in January 2006 during the Pro Bowl, but it wasn't discovered until OTA's months later. He was expected to miss only four months, but instead missed six months.[3] He returned to practice in November 2006 after missing the first nine games of the season.[4] He was later placed on Injured Reserve. Mathis then played in only three games in 2007 even returning one kick for a touchdown before once again being place on Injured Reserve.

Mathis was a restricted free agent following the 2007 season; the Texans declined to offer him another contract.

Washington Redskins

On April 4, 2008, Mathis was signed by the Washington Redskins. He was waived by the team on May 15.

Toronto Argonauts

Mathis signed with the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League on May 11, 2009,[5] and was hoped to replace the loss of Dominique Dorsey to the NFL as kick returner on special teams[6] but was hampered by injuries and cut at the end of training camp.[7][8] He was re-signed on September 17. On November 6, 2009, Mathis was released by the Argonauts.

Pittsburgh Power

Mathis signed with the Pittsburgh Power of the Arena Football League on January 4, 2011.[9] Mathis had a career game on June 11, 2011 against the Tampa Bay Storm, setting new Power single-game franchise records for yards receiving (195), longest reception (46 yards), and longest kick return (57 yards). He also tied Mike Washington's single-game franchise record with 12 receptions and had the first kick return touchdown in Power history. Mathis played in 9 games for the Power, catching 30 passes for 418 yards and 7 touchdowns. He also returned 31 kickoffs for 688 yards and 1 touchdown.

Career statistics
Career StatisticsReceiving
YearTeamGRecYardsY/RTDLNG
2005Houston Texans1256513.0134
2006Houston Texans200000
2007Houston Texans311515.0015
Total1768013.3134
Career StatisticsReturn Statistics
YearTeamGKRYardsY/RFCTDLNGPRYardsY/RFCTDLNG
2005Houston Texans12541,54228.6029912685.70019
2006Houston Texans2719227.40087000000
2007Houston Texans31132029.00184000000
Total17722,15428.5039912685.70019

In December 2007, Mathis was issued a misdemeanor citation for loose dogs after his neighbors complained that they were harassed by his escaped pit bulls. Mathis, allowed the dogs to remain loose and kept unvaccinated animals. Officers captured one dog and three puppies near Mathis' Manvel home. No injuries were reported.[10]

Mathis was arrested on February 19, 2008 following a domestic violence incident, but the charges were dropped.[11]

References
  1. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2010-05-16. Retrieved 2010-04-23.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. Texans lose Pro Bowl return man Mathis till October
  4. Texans Pro Bowl returner Mathis returns to practice
  5. "Argos sign QB Reaves, Former NFL Pro Bowler Mathis". TSN. May 11, 2009. Retrieved 2009-05-11.
  6. Koshan, Terry (2009-06-20). "Mathis ready to bust out here". Toronto Sun. Retrieved 2009-06-21.
  7. The Canadian Press (2009-06-25). "Running back Ebell among 21 players released by Argonauts". TSN.ca. Retrieved 2009-06-25.
  8. Koshan, Terry (2009-06-25). "Argos to dice and slice". Toronto Sun. Retrieved 2009-06-25. Jerome Mathis suffered a left knee injury, not an ankle injury as originally thought, against the Ticats in Steeltown on Tuesday night, and is out indefinitely.
  9. "Pittsburgh Power Football Players". Archived from the original on 2011-02-11. Retrieved 2011-09-02.
  10. Texans' Mathis cited for loose pit bulls
  11. Stewart, Richard (March 21, 2008). "Assault charges dropped against former Texan Mathis". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved August 3, 2018.
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