Jerome Mathis
{{Short description|American football player (born 1983)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Use American English|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Jerome Mathis
| image =
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| number = 13
| position = Wide receiver
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1983|7|26|mf=y}}
| birth_place = Petersburg, Virginia, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 5
| height_in = 11
| weight_lbs = 184
| high_school = Petersburg
| college = Hampton
| draftyear = 2005
| draftround = 4
| draftpick = 114
| pastteams =
- Houston Texans ({{NFL Year|2005}}–{{NFL Year|2007}})
- Washington Redskins ({{NFL Year|2008}})*
- Toronto Argonauts ({{CFL Year|2009}})
- Hartford Colonials ({{UFL Year|2010}})*
- Pittsburgh Power ({{AFL Year|2011}})
| highlights =
- First-team All-Pro (2005)
- Pro Bowl (2005)
- NFL Alumni Special Teams Player of the Year (2005)
- PFWA All-Rookie Team (2005)
| statlabel1 = Receptions
| statvalue1 = 6
| statlabel2 = Receiving yards
| statvalue2 = 80
| statlabel3 = Receiving touchdowns
| statvalue3 = 1
| statlabel4 = Return yards
| statvalue4 = 2,122
| statlabel5 = Return touchdowns
| statvalue5 = 3
| pfr = M/MathJe00
}}
Jerome Alvon Mathis (born July 26, 1983) is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver and kick returner in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Houston Texans in the fourth round of the 2005 NFL draft.{{Cite web |title=2005 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2005/draft.htm |access-date=2023-05-07 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}} He earned a Pro Bowl selection and was an All-Pro with the Texans in 2005. He also played in the Canadian Football League (NFL) and Arena Football League (AFL).
Early life
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.{{cite web |url=http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/lists/lists2001/prepin_m.html |title=Track and Field News: Lists: High School Performances: Indoor: 2001 |access-date=2010-04-23 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100516063424/http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/lists/lists2001/prepin_m.html |archive-date=2010-05-16 }}
Mathis also competed in the long jump, posting a personal best of 7.50 meters at Landover, Maryland in 2003.
;Personal bests
| class="wikitable" |
| 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 |
| class="wikitable" |
| 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.{{Citation needed|date=March 2008}} He also holds the NCAA record for career kickoff returns for a touchdown with six.
Professional career
=Pre-draft=
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 5
| height in = 11 1/4
| weight = 181
| dash = 4.26
| ten split = 1.56
| twenty split = 2.56
| vertical = 35.5
| broad ft = 10
| broad in = 3
| note = All values from NFL Combine{{Cite web |title=2005 NFL Draft Scout Jerome Mathis College Football Profile |url=http://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=54456&DraftYear=2005 |access-date=September 22, 2023 |website=DraftScout.com}}{{Cite web |title=Top 11 fastest 40-yard dash runs |url=https://www.nfl.com/photos/top-11-fastest-40-yard-dash-runs-0ap3000000917865#91cdc362-641d-42c4-aea0-a06c3b1fd8dd |access-date=September 22, 2023 |website=NFL.com}}
}}
Mathis recorded the fourth fastest 40-yard dash time (4.26 seconds) ever at the NFL Combine, which was broken by Chris Johnson in 2008, John Ross in 2017, and Xavier Worthy in 2024. His time was tied by Dri Archer in 2014.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/347-pound-vita-vea-wants-john-ross-to-know-the-40-yard-dash-records-going-down/|title = 347-pound Vita Vea wants John Ross to know the 40-yard dash record's going down| date=March 3, 2018 }}
=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.[https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=2466292 Texans lose Pro Bowl return man Mathis till October] He returned to practice in November 2006 after missing the first nine games of the season.[https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=2663575 Texans Pro Bowl returner Mathis returns to practice] 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,{{cite news|url=https://www.tsn.ca/cfl/story/?id=278347|title=Argos sign QB Reaves, Former NFL Pro Bowler Mathis|date=May 11, 2009|publisher=TSN|accessdate=2009-05-11}} and was hoped to replace the loss of Dominique Dorsey to the NFL as kick returner on special teams{{cite news|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/CFL/Toronto/2009/06/20/9872456-sun.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120715080355/http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/CFL/Toronto/2009/06/20/9872456-sun.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=July 15, 2012|title=Mathis ready to bust out here|last=Koshan|first=Terry|date=2009-06-20|publisher=Toronto Sun|accessdate=2009-06-21}} but was hampered by injuries and cut at the end of training camp.{{cite news|url=https://www.tsn.ca/cfl/story/?id=282845|author=The Canadian Press|title=Running back Ebell among 21 players released by Argonauts|date=2009-06-25|publisher=TSN.ca|accessdate=2009-06-25}}{{cite news|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/CFL/Toronto/2009/06/25/9921066-sun.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120716224129/http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/CFL/Toronto/2009/06/25/9921066-sun.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=July 16, 2012|title=Argos to dice and slice|last=Koshan|first=Terry|date=2009-06-25|publisher=Toronto Sun|quote=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.|accessdate=2009-06-25}} 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.pittsburghpowerfootball.com/team2.jsp |title=Pittsburgh Power Football Players |access-date=2011-09-02 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110211003922/http://www.pittsburghpowerfootball.com/team2.jsp |archive-date=2011-02-11 }} 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.
=NFL statistics=
| class="wikitable" style="background:#fff;" | |||||||
| style="text-align:center;"
| colspan="3"|Career statistics | colspan="5" style="text-align:center;"| Receiving | ||||||
| Year | Team | G | Rec | Yards | Y/R | TD | LNG |
| 2005 | Houston Texans | 12 | 5 | 65 | 13.0 | 1 | 34 |
| 2006 | Houston Texans | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2007 | Houston Texans | 3 | 1 | 15 | 15.0 | 0 | 15 |
| Total | 17 | 6 | 80 | 13.3 | 1 | 34 |
| class="wikitable" style="background:#fff;" | ||||||||||||||
| style="text-align:center;"
| colspan="3"|Career statistics | colspan="12" style="text-align:center;"| Returning | |||||||||||||
| Year | Team | G | KR | Yards | Y/R | FC | TD | LNG | PR | Yards | Y/R | FC | TD | LNG |
| 2005 | Houston Texans | 12 | 54 | 1,542 | 28.6 | 0 | 2 | 99 | 12 | 68 | 5.7 | 0 | 0 | 19 |
| 2006 | Houston Texans | 2 | 7 | 192 | 27.4 | 0 | 0 | 87 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2007 | Houston Texans | 3 | 11 | 320 | 29.0 | 0 | 1 | 84 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 17 | 72 | 2,154 | 28.5 | 0 | 3 | 99 | 12 | 68 | 5.7 | 0 | 0 | 19 |
Legal troubles
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's Manvel home. No injuries were reported.{{cite web | url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=3151141 | title=Texans' Mathis cited for loose pit bulls | date=December 12, 2007 | work=ESPN | agency=Associated Press}}
Mathis was arrested on February 19, 2008, following a domestic violence incident, but the charges were dropped.{{cite web | title=Assault charges dropped against former Texan Mathis | last=Stewart | first=Richard | url=https://www.chron.com/sports/texans/article/Assault-charges-dropped-against-former-Texan-1542924.php | work=Houston Chronicle | date=March 21, 2008 | accessdate=August 3, 2018}}
References
{{Reflist|2}}
External links
- [http://www.justsportsstats.com/footballstatsindex.php?player_id=mathijer001&recsort=4 Just Sports Stats]
- [http://www.houstontexans.com/team/player.asp?player_id=149 Houston Texans bio] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080311212814/http://www.houstontexans.com/team/player.asp?player_id=149 |date=2008-03-11 }}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20090918095859/http://www.argonauts.ca/index.php/roster/show/id/2483 Toronto Argonauts bio]
{{Texans2005DraftPicks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mathis, Jerome}}
Category:Sportspeople from Petersburg, Virginia
Category:Canadian football wide receivers
Category:American football wide receivers
Category:American football return specialists
Category:American Conference Pro Bowl players
Category:Hampton Pirates football players
Category:Houston Texans players
Category:21st-century American sportsmen
Category:Washington Redskins players
Category:Toronto Argonauts players
Category:Hartford Colonials players
Category:Pittsburgh Power players
Category:21st-century African-American sportsmen
Category:20th-century African-American sportsmen