Jerome Mathis
Encyclopedia
Jerome Alvon Mathis is a professional American and Canadian football
wide receiver
and kick returner
who currently is a free agent
. He was drafted by the Houston Texans
in the fourth round of the 2005 NFL Draft
. He played college football
for Hampton.
Mathis has also been a member of the Washington Redskins
. He earned a Pro Bowl
selection and was an All-Pro with the Texans in 2005
.
in Petersburg, where he was an all-state, all-district and all-metro wide receiver and kick returner. He 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 meter indoor time in the nation that year with 6.36, 0.01 seconds faster than Tyson Gay, and the 2nd fastest 300 meter indoor time with 34.03.
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.
(4.28 seconds) ever at the NFL Combine
, behind Fabian Washington
(4.25 seconds) and Chris Johnson
(4.24 seconds).
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 June 2006 and was expected to miss only four months. He returned to practice in November 2006 after missing the first nine games of the season
. He was later placed on Injured Reserve
. Mathis then played in only three games in 2007
before once again being place on Injured Reserve.
Nine days after being arrested on February 19, 2008, the Texans chose not to tender Mathis a contract as a restricted free agent
.
. He was waived by the team on May 15.
of the Canadian Football League
on May 11, 2009, and was hoped to replace the loss of Dominique Dorsey
to the NFL as kick returner
on special teams but was hampered by injuries and cut at the end of training camp. He was re-signed on September 17. On November 6, 2009, Mathis was released by the Argonauts.
of the Arena Football League
on January 4, 2011. 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.
Gridiron football
Gridiron football , sometimes known as North American football, is an umbrella term for related codes of football primarily played in the United States and Canada. The predominant forms of gridiron football are American football and Canadian football...
wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
and kick returner
Kick returner
In American and Canadian football, a kick returner is the player on special teams who is primarily responsible to catch kickoffs and attempts to return them in the opposite direction. If the ball is kicked into his own endzone, he must assess the situation on the field while the ball is in the...
who currently is a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
. He was drafted by the Houston Texans
Houston Texans
The Houston Texans are a professional American football team based in Houston, Texas. The team is currently a member of the Southern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the fourth round of the 2005 NFL Draft
2005 NFL Draft
The 2005 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 23–24, 2005. The league also held an supplemental draft that year, which was held after...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
for Hampton.
Mathis has also been a member of the Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
. He earned a Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
selection and was an All-Pro with the Texans in 2005
2006 Pro Bowl
The 2006 AFC-NFC Pro Bowl was played on February 12, 2006 at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii. It marked the 27th consecutive time that the National Football League's all-star game was held in Honolulu...
.
Early years
Mathis attended Petersburg High SchoolPetersburg High School (Virginia)
Petersburg High School is located in Petersburg, Virginia.Petersburg High School is located on Johnson Road in Petersburg, Va. The new school combined the old Petersburg High School on Washington Street and the old Peabody High School on Wesley Street.Petersburg High School opened the current...
in Petersburg, where he was an all-state, all-district and all-metro wide receiver and kick returner. He left high school as a six time state champion in track
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
, winning the 2001 national indoor 200 meter title, and setting the 7th fastest time in the nation with 21.79 seconds, at the Nike
Nike, Inc.
Nike, Inc. is a major publicly traded sportswear and equipment supplier based in the United States. The company is headquartered near Beaverton, Oregon, which is part of the Portland metropolitan area...
Classic. He also set the joint 5th fastest 55 meter indoor time in the nation that year with 6.36, 0.01 seconds faster than Tyson Gay, and the 2nd fastest 300 meter indoor time with 34.03.
College career
Mathis holds the NCAANational Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
record for career kick return average, breaking the record set by John Taylor of Delaware State University
Delaware State University
Delaware State University , is an American historically black, public university located in Dover, Delaware, and there are two satellite campuses located in Wilmington, Delaware, and Georgetown, Delaware...
, with an average of 26.6 yards per return. He also holds the NCAA record for career kickoff returns for a touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
with six.
Pre-draft
Mathis recorded the third fastest 40 time40 yard dash
The 40-yard dash is a sprint covering . It is primarily run to evaluate the speed of American football players by scouts, particularly for the NFL Draft but also for collegiate recruiting. A player's recorded time in the 40 can have a heavy impact on his prospects in college or professional football...
(4.28 seconds) ever at the NFL Combine
NFL Combine
The National Invitational Camp or NFL Scouting Combine, as it is more widely known, is a week-long showcase, occurring every February in Indianapolis, Indiana's Lucas Oil Stadium , where college football players perform physical and mental tests in front of National Football League coaches, general...
, behind Fabian Washington
Fabian Washington
-Oakland Raiders:During his rookie year he played all 16 games with 11 starts and recorded 40 tackles. In his second season with the Raiders, Washington started in all 14 games he played in and had 43 tackles and four interceptions . During his third season with the Raiders in 2007 he played in 15...
(4.25 seconds) and Chris Johnson
Chris Johnson (running back)
Christopher Duan Johnson is an American football running back for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League...
(4.24 seconds).
Houston Texans
In his rookieRookie
Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of their sport or has little or no professional experience. The term also has the more general meaning of anyone new to a profession, training or activity Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of...
season
2005 NFL season
The 2005 NFL season was the 86th regular season of the National Football League.With the New England Patriots as the defending league champions, regular season play was held from September 8, 2005 to January 1, 2006...
with the Texans, he was selected to the Pro Bowl
2006 Pro Bowl
The 2006 AFC-NFC Pro Bowl was played on February 12, 2006 at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii. It marked the 27th consecutive time that the National Football League's all-star game was held in Honolulu...
for the AFC
American Football Conference
The American Football Conference is one of the two conferences of the National Football League . This conference and its counterpart, the National Football Conference , currently contain 16 teams each, making up the 32 teams of the NFL....
to be their starter as a kick returner. He was one of three rookies (Shawne Merriman
Shawne Merriman
Shawne DeAndre Merriman is an American football linebacker for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League. He was drafted 12th overall by the San Diego Chargers in the 2005 NFL Draft. On November 2, 2010, the Chargers waived Merriman...
, linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
, of the San Diego Chargers
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
and Lofa Tatupu
Lofa Tatupu
-Seattle Seahawks:Tatupu quickly established himself as one of the top defensive players in the league as a rookie in 2005, in which he was named to the Pro Bowl, while leading the NFC Champion Seahawks in tackles, with 104, en route to their first Super Bowl appearance in franchise history...
, linebacker, of the Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
, being the others) selected to be participants in the game.
Mathis fractured his left foot in June 2006 and was expected to miss only four months. He returned to practice in November 2006 after missing the first nine games of the season
2006 NFL season
The 2006 NFL season was the 87th regular season of the National Football League.Regular season play was held from September 7 to December 31, 2006...
. He was later placed on Injured Reserve
Injured reserve
The injured reserve list is a list of reserved players who are injured and unable to play for a period of time, used most prominently in the National Hockey League and National Football League . It is used because these leagues have a maximum number of players on the team roster, so placing a...
. Mathis then played in only three games in 2007
2007 NFL season
The 2007 NFL season was the 88th regular season of the National Football League.Regular-season play was held from September 6 to December 30....
before once again being place on Injured Reserve.
Nine days after being arrested on February 19, 2008, the Texans chose not to tender Mathis a contract as a restricted free agent
Restricted free agent
A restricted free agent is a professional athlete who plays in the KHL, NFL, NHL, or NBA. Such players have special restrictions on the terms under which they can retain or change employment status with their athletic club teams.- NFL :...
.
Washington Redskins
On April 4, 2008, Mathis was signed by the Washington RedskinsWashington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
. He was waived by the team on May 15.
Toronto Argonauts
Mathis signed with the Toronto ArgonautsToronto Argonauts
The Toronto Argonauts are a professional Canadian football team competing in the East Division of the Canadian Football League. The Toronto, Ontario based team was founded in 1873 and is one of the oldest existing professional sports teams in North America, after the Chicago Cubs and the Atlanta...
of the Canadian Football League
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
on May 11, 2009, and was hoped to replace the loss of Dominique Dorsey
Dominique Dorsey
Dominique Ramone Dorsey is a professional American and Canadian football running back and kick returner who is currently a free agent. He most recently played for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League. He was originally signed by the Roughriders as an undrafted free agent in...
to the NFL as kick returner
Kick returner
In American and Canadian football, a kick returner is the player on special teams who is primarily responsible to catch kickoffs and attempts to return them in the opposite direction. If the ball is kicked into his own endzone, he must assess the situation on the field while the ball is in the...
on special teams but was hampered by injuries and cut at the end of training camp. He was re-signed on September 17. On November 6, 2009, Mathis was released by the Argonauts.
Pittsburgh Power
Mathis signed with the Pittsburgh PowerPittsburgh Power
The Pittsburgh Power is an Arena Football League team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania that began play in March of 2011. The team plays its home games at the new Consol Energy Center, which they share with the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League...
of the Arena Football League
Arena Football League
The Arena Football League is the highest level of professional indoor American football in the United States. It is currently the second longest running professional football league in the United States, after the National Football League. It was founded in 1987 by Jim Foster...
on January 4, 2011. Mathis had a career game on June 11, 2011 against the Tampa Bay Storm
Tampa Bay Storm
The Tampa Bay Storm are an Arena Football League team based in the Tampa Bay Area of Florida. They play their home games in the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa....
, 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 Statistics | Receiving | ||||||
| Year | Team | G | Rec | Yards | Y/R | TD | LNG |
| 2005 2005 NFL season The 2005 NFL season was the 86th regular season of the National Football League.With the New England Patriots as the defending league champions, regular season play was held from September 8, 2005 to January 1, 2006... |
Houston Texans 2005 Houston Texans season The 2005 Houston Texans season was the fourth season in franchise history. The Texans completed the season with the worst record in both the NFL and in franchise history... |
12 | 5 | 65 | 13.0 | 1 | 34 |
| 2006 2006 NFL season The 2006 NFL season was the 87th regular season of the National Football League.Regular season play was held from September 7 to December 31, 2006... |
Houston Texans 2006 Houston Texans season The 2006 Houston Texans season began with the team trying to improve on their 2–14 record in 2005.-Offseason:On January 2, 2006, the day after the last game of the 2005 season, head coach Dom Capers and most of the coaching staff was fired by owner Bob McNair. General Manager Charley Casserly was... |
2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2007 2007 NFL season The 2007 NFL season was the 88th regular season of the National Football League.Regular-season play was held from September 6 to December 30.... |
Houston Texans 2007 Houston Texans season The 2007 Houston Texans season began with the team trying to improve on their 6–10 record in 2006. This season marks the sixth year of existence for the Texans franchise as well as Reliant Stadium.-Offseason:... |
3 | 1 | 15 | 15.0 | 0 | 15 |
| Total | 17 | 6 | 80 | 13.3 | 1 | 34 |
| Career Statistics | Return Statistics | |||||||||||||
| Year | Team | G | KR | Yards | Y/R | FC Fair catch A fair catch is a feature of American football and several other codes of football, in which a player attempting to catch a ball kicked by the opposing team – either on a kickoff or punt – is entitled to catch the ball without interference from any member of the kicking team... |
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 |