Robert Mathis
Encyclopedia
Robert Nathan Mathis is an American football
defensive end
who currently plays for the NFL
's Indianapolis Colts
.
.
http://www.nflgridirongab.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/robert-mathis.jpg
fraternity, Nu Epsilon chapter.
.
Mathis immediately stepped in during his rookie season as a pass rush specialist, seeing action in all 16 regular season games and recording 20 tackles, 3.5 sacks and 3 forced fumbles. During his second season, Mathis took another step forward as he increased his numbers to 36 tackles, 10.5 sacks and 6 forced fumbles, despite appearing only as a specialist and starting only 1 game. In Mathis's third season, he set a Colts franchise record with 8 consecutive games with at least 1 sack, and finished the season with 54 tackles, 11.5 sacks and 8 forced fumbles, despite missing three games due to injuries.
Following the 2005 season, Robert Mathis signed a 5 year extension with the Colts believed to be worth $30 million, making him one of the highest paid defensive ends in the league. The following season, Mathis started every game for the first time in his career, recording a career high 65 tackles along with 9.5 sacks and 6 forced fumbles. That year, Mathis helped the Colts go on to beat the Chicago Bears
in Super Bowl XLI
to become NFL Champions.
In 2007, Mathis recorded 32 tackles, 7 sacks and 4 forced fumbles in an injury shortened season.
In 2008, Mathis had his best statistical season posting 48 tackles, 11.5 sacks and 5 forced fumbles. He was also voted to the 2009 NFL Pro Bowl for the AFC behind fellow teammate and perennial Pro-Bowler Dwight Freeney
.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
defensive end
Defensive end
Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years...
who currently plays for the NFL
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
's Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
.
Early years
Mathis attended McNair High School in Atlanta, GeorgiaAtlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
.
http://www.nflgridirongab.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/robert-mathis.jpg
College career
As a 4-year starter at Alabama A&M University, Mathis set an NCAA 1-AA record with 20 sacks during his senior season and established himself as one of the most dominant defensive players in NCAA 1-AA history. In the summer of 2010, Mathis graduated with a degree in exercise science with a minor in physical education, and is a member of the Omega Psi PhiOmega Psi Phi
Omega Psi Phi is a fraternity and is the first African-American national fraternal organization to be founded at a historically black college. Omega Psi Phi was founded on November 17, 1911, at Howard University in Washington, D.C.. The founders were three Howard University juniors, Edgar Amos...
fraternity, Nu Epsilon chapter.
Professional career
Mathis was selected by the Indianapolis Colts with the 138th selection in the 2003 NFL Draft2003 NFL Draft
The 2003 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. The draft is known officially as the "NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting" and has been conducted annually since 1936. The draft was held April 26–27, 2003 at the Theatre at...
.
Mathis immediately stepped in during his rookie season as a pass rush specialist, seeing action in all 16 regular season games and recording 20 tackles, 3.5 sacks and 3 forced fumbles. During his second season, Mathis took another step forward as he increased his numbers to 36 tackles, 10.5 sacks and 6 forced fumbles, despite appearing only as a specialist and starting only 1 game. In Mathis's third season, he set a Colts franchise record with 8 consecutive games with at least 1 sack, and finished the season with 54 tackles, 11.5 sacks and 8 forced fumbles, despite missing three games due to injuries.
Following the 2005 season, Robert Mathis signed a 5 year extension with the Colts believed to be worth $30 million, making him one of the highest paid defensive ends in the league. The following season, Mathis started every game for the first time in his career, recording a career high 65 tackles along with 9.5 sacks and 6 forced fumbles. That year, Mathis helped the Colts go on to beat the Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
in Super Bowl XLI
Super Bowl XLI
Super Bowl XLI was an American football game that featured the American Football Conference champion Indianapolis Colts and the National Football Conference champion Chicago Bears to decide the National Football League champion for the 2006 season...
to become NFL Champions.
In 2007, Mathis recorded 32 tackles, 7 sacks and 4 forced fumbles in an injury shortened season.
In 2008, Mathis had his best statistical season posting 48 tackles, 11.5 sacks and 5 forced fumbles. He was also voted to the 2009 NFL Pro Bowl for the AFC behind fellow teammate and perennial Pro-Bowler Dwight Freeney
Dwight Freeney
Dwight Jason Freeney is an American football defensive end who currently plays for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League. He was drafted in the 1st round of the 2002 NFL Draft. He played college football at Syracuse University.-Early years:Freeney attended Bloomfield High School...
.