Robert Mathis

Last updated

Robert Mathis
Robert Mathis 2016.JPG
Mathis with the Colts in 2016
Indianapolis Colts
Position:Pass rush consultant
Player development
Personal information
Born: (1981-02-26) February 26, 1981 (age 42)
Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Height:6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:245 lb (111 kg)
Career information
High school: McNair
(Atlanta)
College: Alabama A&M (1999–2002)
NFL Draft: 2003  / Round: 5 / Pick: 138
Career history
As a player:
As a coach:
  • Indianapolis Colts (2017–present)
    Pass rush consultant & player development
Career highlights and awards
NFL records
  • Most career forced fumbles: 54
  • Most forced fumbles in a season: 10 (2013; tied) [lower-alpha 1]
Career NFL statistics
Total tackles:538
Sacks:123
Forced fumbles:54
Fumble recoveries:17
Interceptions:1
Safeties:1
Defensive touchdowns:3
Player stats at NFL.com  ·  PFR

Robert Nathan Mathis [2] (born February 26, 1981) is an American former professional football player who spent his entire 14-year career as a defensive end and linebacker with the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Alabama A&M Bulldogs and was selected by the Colts in the fifth round of the 2003 NFL Draft. A five-time Pro Bowler, Mathis won the Super Bowl XLI with the Colts in 2006 over the Chicago Bears. He is also the NFL's all-time leader in forced fumbles and strip sacks. The year after retiring, Mathis joined the Colts as an assistant defensive coach.

Contents

Early years

Mathis was born in Atlanta, Georgia. He attended McNair High School in Atlanta. He was classmates with Gucci Mane. [3]

College career

Mathis enrolled in at Alabama A&M University, where he was a four-year starter for the Bulldogs. He set an NCAA I-AA record with 20 sacks during his senior season and established himself as one of the most dominant defensive players in NCAA I-AA history. [4] 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 Phi fraternity, Nu Epsilon chapter. [5]

Professional career

Indianapolis Colts

2003–2005

Mathis was selected by the Indianapolis Colts with the 138th selection in the 2003 NFL Draft. [6]

Mathis immediately stepped in during his rookie season as a pass rush specialist, playing in all 16 regular season games and recording 20 tackles, 3.5 sacks and 3 forced fumbles. [7] 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. [7] 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. [7]

2006–2011

Following the 2005 season, Robert Mathis signed a 5-year extension with the Colts worth $30 million, making him one of the highest paid defensive ends in the league at the time. [8] 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. [7] 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. [7]

In 2008, Mathis had his best statistical season to date, posting 48 tackles, 11.5 sacks and 5 forced fumbles. [7] He was also voted to the 2009 Pro Bowl for the AFC behind then-teammate and perennial Pro-Bowler Dwight Freeney.

Mathis playing for the Colts in 2010. Robert Mathis.jpg
Mathis playing for the Colts in 2010.

In November 2009, Mathis won his first career AFC Defensive Player of the Month award, and finished the season with 37 tackles, 9.5 sacks, and 5 forced fumbles. [7] [9] He would win his second such award for his defensive performance in September 2010, [10] and would finish 2010 with 60 tackles, 11 sacks, and 1 forced fumble. [7]

Mathis recorded 9.5 sacks during the 2011 regular season, along with 43 tackles and 3 forced fumbles. [7] It was the seventh season in his 9-year NFL career that he had at least 9.5 sacks. On January 2, 2012 Mathis was added to the AFC Pro Bowl Roster to replace Patriots DE Andre Carter. [11] On January 23, 2012 Mathis decided not to play in Pro Bowl. [12] Mathis recorded 33 tackles, 8 sacks, and 1 forced fumble in 12 games during the 2012 season. [7]

2012–2016

On March 5, 2012, Mathis signed a one-year tender worth $10.6 million. [13] He then signed a four-year $36 million contract on the same day. [13] Mathis began playing strong-side outside linebacker under new Colts head coach Chuck Pagano during the 2012 season. He recorded his first interception against Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford in a 35-33 win during week 13. [14]

In week 5 of the 2013 season against the Seattle Seahawks, Mathis recorded the 100th sack of his career. He became the 30th player in league history to accomplish the feat. He was named the AFC Defensive Player of the Month for October, the third time he has won the award. [15]

On November 24, 2013 during a game against the Cardinals, Mathis recorded his 40th career strip sack, breaking the previous record held by Jason Taylor. [16]

In a Week 15 matchup with the Houston Texans on December 15, 2013, Mathis sacked quarterback Case Keenum giving him the Colts' single-season record of 16.5 sacks and the franchise record of 108.0 career sacks, breaking marks previously held by Dwight Freeney, his former teammate. It was also his 42nd strip sack of his career, adding to his NFL record of career sack forced fumbles. [17]

Mathis would lead the NFL in sacks with 19.5, a half sack more than Robert Quinn of the St. Louis Rams. [18] He was awarded the inaugural Deacon Jones award for leading the NFL in sacks, [1] and also won his second AFC Defensive Player of the Month award of the 2013 season for his performance in December. [19] He finished second in the Defensive Player of the Year voting behind Luke Kuechly of the Carolina Panthers. [20]

On May 16, 2014, it was announced that Mathis would serve a 4-game suspension for violating the leagues' drug policy. Mathis issued a statement later that day claiming that his violation of the league's performance-enhancing drug policy was due to taking unapproved fertility drugs to conceive a child. [21]

On September 8, 2014, it was reported that Mathis had torn his Achilles tendon while working out on his own, sidelining him for the season. [22] The Colts signed Mathis to a one-year extension on September 30, 2014. [23]

During the 2015 season, Mathis won the AFC Defensive Player of the Week award for Week 16 after totalling two sacks against the Dolphins, including one to end the game. Coincidentally, former teammate Dwight Freeney won the award for the NFC for the same week. [24]

On December 30, 2016, Mathis announced that he would retire following the Colts Week 17 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. [25] [26] In the game Mathis recorded three tackles and a strip sack, which was the 123rd sack of his career. He passed former teammate Dwight Freeney (122.5) for 17th most sacks in NFL history, and extended his own record for most career strip sacks (47). For his efforts in the game, he was named the AFC Defensive Player of the Week. [27]

NFL career statistics

Legend
Won the Super Bowl
NFL record
Led the league
BoldCareer high

Regular season

YearTeamGamesTacklesInterceptionsFumbles
GPGSCmbSoloAstSckPDIntYdsAvgLngTDFFFRYdsTD
2003 IND 160252143.52000.0003100
2004 IND 1613632410.50000.00063260
2005 IND 13056451111.52000.0008000
2006 IND 16166550159.54000.0004200
2007 IND 1312373167.00000.0004100
2008 IND 15247361111.53000.00053371
2009 IND 1493724139.52000.0005000
2010 IND 161660441611.01000.0001110
2011 IND 16154329149.51000.0003300
2012 IND 12123322118.01111.0101000
2013 IND 161659441519.51000.00010000
2014 IND 00did not play due to injury
2015 IND 1510201557.00000.0001101
2016 IND 1412201555.00000.00032141
Career 192121538408130123.018111.0105417783

Postseason

YearTeamGamesTacklesInterceptionsFumbles
GPGSCmbSoloAstSckPDIntYdsAvgLngTDFFFRYdsTD
2003 IND 30541–1–––––––––
2004 IND 10431–––––––––––
2005 IND 10220–1–––––––––
2006 IND 44201461.5––––––3100
2007 IND 10––––––––––––––
2008 IND 104312.0––––––––––
2009 IND 33853–––––––––––
2010 IND 11220–––––––––––
2012 IND 115321.0––––––––––
2013 IND 225322.0––––––2000
2014 IND 00did not play due to injury
Career18115539166.52–––––5100

Personal life

Mathis appeared as himself in the episode "Fluoride" of the comedy television series Parks and Recreation, alongside teammates Andrew Luck, Reggie Wayne, Adam Vinatieri, Anthony Castonzo, and Colts owner Jim Irsay. [28]

In 2017, Mathis joined the Colts coaching staff as a Pass Rush Consultant.

In 2020, Mathis started the Gridiron Gang, a football team based in Indianapolis that travels the country.

Notes

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dwight Freeney</span> American football player (born 1980)

Dwight Jason Freeney is an American former football player who played as a defensive end and outside linebacker for 16 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Syracuse University, where he earned unanimous All-American honors, and was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in the first round of the 2002 NFL Draft. With the Colts, Freeney won Super Bowl XLI over the Chicago Bears, and made seven Pro Bowls. He also played for the San Diego Chargers, Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, Seattle Seahawks and Detroit Lions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tony Siragusa</span> American football player and TV personality (1967–2022)

Anthony Siragusa, nicknamed "the Goose", was an American professional football player who was a defensive tackle for 12 seasons with the Indianapolis Colts and the Baltimore Ravens in the National Football League (NFL). After his football career, he worked as a sideline analyst for NFL games broadcast on the Fox Network from 2003 to 2015. He also hosted various shows on television, such as the home renovation program Man Caves on the DIY Network.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shaun Ellis</span> American football player (born 1977)

MeShaunda "Shaun" Pizarrur Ellis, nicknamed "Big Katt", is an American former professional football player who was a defensive end who spent the majority of his career with the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Tennessee Volunteers. Ellis was selected by the Jets in the first round of the 2000 NFL Draft with the 12th overall pick. He also played for the New England Patriots. He was a two-time Pro Bowl selection.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rashean Mathis</span> American football player (born 1980)

Rashean Jamil Mathis is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Bethune–Cookman Wildcats, and was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the second round of the 2003 NFL Draft. He also played for the Detroit Lions. Mathis is regarded as one of the best defensive players in Jaguars history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trent Cole</span> American football player (born 1982)

Trent James Cole Jr. is an American former professional football player who was a defensive end and outside linebacker for 12 seasons in the National Football League (NFL), primarily with the Philadelphia Eagles. Cole played college football for the Cincinnati Bearcats, and was drafted by the Eagles in the fifth round of the 2005 NFL Draft, where he played with them from 2005 until 2014 and was a two-time Pro Bowler. He ended his career after two seasons with the Indianapolis Colts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mario Williams</span> American football player (born 1985)

Mario Jerrel Williams is an American former professional football player who was a defensive end in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the NC State Wolfpack, and was selected first overall by the Houston Texans in the 2006 NFL Draft. A four-time Pro Bowl selection, he has also played for the Buffalo Bills and Miami Dolphins.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Raheem Brock</span> American football player (born 1978)

Raheem Fukwan Brock is a former American football defensive end who played in the National Football League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">D'Qwell Jackson</span> American football player (born 1983)

D'Qwell Jackson is an American former professional football player who was an inside linebacker for eleven seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Maryland Terrapins, and was selected by the Cleveland Browns in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft. He also played for the Indianapolis Colts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Antoine Bethea</span> American football player (born 1984)

Antoine Akeem Bethea is an American former professional football player who was a safety for 14 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Howard Bison and was selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the sixth round of the 2006 NFL Draft. Bethea also played for the San Francisco 49ers, Arizona Cardinals and New York Giants. He was selected for the Pro Bowl three times and won Super Bowl XLI as a member of the Colts, beating the Chicago Bears.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Erik Walden</span> American football player (born 1985)

Erik Lashawn Walden is a former American football linebacker. He played college football at Middle Tennessee State and was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the sixth round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He also played for the Kansas City Chiefs, Miami Dolphins, Green Bay Packers, Indianapolis Colts, Tennessee Titans, and Seattle Seahawks. With the Packers, he won Super Bowl XLV in 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jerry Hughes</span> American football player (born 1988)

Jerry Ray Hughes Jr. is an American football defensive end for the Houston Texans of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at TCU, where he was twice recognized as a consensus All-American before being drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in the first round of the 2010 NFL Draft. Hughes has also played for the Buffalo Bills.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ricardo Mathews</span> American football player (born 1987)

Ricardo Eugene Mathews is a former American football defensive end. He was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in the seventh round of the 2010 NFL draft. He played college football at Cincinnati.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Justin Houston</span> American football player (born 1989)

Justin Donovan Houston is an American football linebacker for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Georgia, where he earned All-American honors, and was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the third round of the 2011 NFL Draft. A four-time Pro Bowl selection, he was also named to the All-Pro team in 2014. He also played for the Indianapolis Colts for two seasons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malik Jackson (defensive lineman)</span> American football player (born 1990)

Malik Barron Jackson is an American former professional football player who was a defensive tackle for 10 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Tennessee Volunteers. Jackson was selected by the Denver Broncos in the fifth round of the 2012 NFL Draft. He has also played for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Philadelphia Eagles, and Cleveland Browns.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jonathan Newsome</span> American gridiron football player (born 1991)

Jonathan Newsome is an American football defensive end for the Birmingham Stallions of the United States Football League (USFL). He played college football at Ohio State and Ball State, and was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in the fifth round of the 2014 NFL Draft. He has also been a member of the Saskatchewan Roughriders and Ottawa Redblacks of the Canadian Football League (CFL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Denico Autry</span> American football player (born 1990)

Denico Autry is an American football defensive end for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League (NFL). He attended Albemarle High School in Albemarle, North Carolina and first enrolled at East Mississippi Community College. He then transferred to play college football at Mississippi State, and was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Oakland Raiders.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DeForest Buckner</span> American football player (born 1994)

DeForest George Buckner is an American football defensive tackle for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Oregon, and was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft. With the 49ers, Buckner made a Pro Bowl and was a second-team All-Pro selection in 2019. With the Colts, he was selected to the first-team All Pro in 2020 and made the Pro Bowl the following year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yannick Ngakoue</span> American football player (born 1995)

Yannick Nicolas Ngakoue is an American football defensive end for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Maryland and was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the third round of the 2016 NFL Draft. He has also played one season each for the Minnesota Vikings, Baltimore Ravens, Las Vegas Raiders, and Indianapolis Colts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Jones (defensive tackle, born 1994)</span> American football player (born 1994)

Christopher Deshun Jones is an American football defensive tackle for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Mississippi State, and was drafted by the Chiefs in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shaquille Leonard</span> American football player (born 1995)

Darius Shaquille Leonard is an American football linebacker for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at South Carolina State and was drafted in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft by the Colts. In his rookie season, Leonard led the league in tackles and was named a First-Team All-Pro and Defensive Rookie of the Year; he was also voted into the NFL Top 100 the following offseason. Leonard has been informally nicknamed "Maniac" due to his energetic and productive on-field play.

References

  1. 1 2 Alper, Josh (January 2, 2014). "Robert Mathis wins inaugural Deacon Jones Award". profootballtalk.nbcsports.com. Retrieved January 2, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Mathis Pro Football Reference Profile". pro-football-reference.com.
  3. ↑ Kelley, Craig (May 10, 2013). "Robert Mathis Honors Mother". colts.com. Retrieved July 2, 2015.
  4. ↑ Rank, Adam (February 10, 2014). "NFL players from historically black colleges". National Football League . Retrieved February 27, 2014.
  5. ↑ "Robert Mathis: The Official Website of the Indianapolis Colts". Colts.com. Archived from the original on April 11, 2008.
  6. ↑ "2003 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Robert Mathis, OLB for the Indianapolis Colts at NFL.com". nfl.com. Retrieved October 31, 2013.
  8. ↑ "Mathis signs 5 year, $30 dollar extension with Colts". Colts.com.
  9. ↑ Rosenthal, Gregg (December 3, 2009). "AFC defensive player of the month should get Robert Mathis a cash prize". nbcsports.com. Retrieved October 31, 2013.
  10. ↑ Rosenthal, Gregg (September 30, 2010). "Robert Mathis pockets AFC defensive player of the month award". nbcsports.com. Retrieved October 31, 2013.
  11. ↑ "Colts DE Robert Mathis added to Pro Bowl roster". indystar.com. Retrieved January 3, 2012.
  12. ↑ "Colts defensive end Robert Mathis won't play in Sunday's Pro Bowl in Honolulu". indystar.com. Retrieved January 23, 2012.
  13. 1 2 "Robert Mathis".
  14. ↑ "Recap: Detroit vs. Indianapolis". usatoday.com. December 2, 2012. Retrieved October 31, 2013.
  15. ↑ "Colts OLB-Robert Mathis named AFC Defensive Player of the Month". colts.com. October 31, 2013. Retrieved October 31, 2013.
  16. ↑ Chappell, Mike (November 24, 2013). "Colts flaws vividly exposed in 40-11 loss". indystar.com. Retrieved December 2, 2013.
  17. ↑ Bowen, Kevin (December 15, 2013). "Robert Mathis Breaks Franchise Sack Record". colts.com. Retrieved December 15, 2013.
  18. ↑ Kelley, Craig (December 29, 2013). "Robert Mathis, NFL Sack Champion". colts.com. Retrieved December 30, 2013.
  19. ↑ Alper, Josh (January 2, 2014). "Robert Mathis caps stellar season with AFC defensive player of the month". profootballtalk.nbcsports.com. Retrieved December 2, 2014.
  20. ↑ "Panthers' Luke Kuechly is Defensive Player of the Year". NFL.com. Retrieved March 23, 2017.
  21. ↑ Rosenthal, Greg (May 16, 2014). "Colts' Robert Mathis suspended four games for PEDs". NFL.com. Retrieved May 16, 2014.
  22. ↑ Chappell, Mike (September 8, 2014). "Colts LB Robert Mathis tears Achilles, out for the season". Indianapolis Star. Retrieved September 8, 2014.
  23. ↑ "Colts sign Mathis to extension through 2016". Sportsnet . September 30, 2014. Retrieved September 30, 2014.
  24. ↑ Sports, IndyStar. "Colts' Robert Mathis named AFC Defensive Player of the Week". The Indianapolis Star.
  25. ↑ Keefer, Zak (December 30, 2016). "Colts Robert Mathis announces retirement". indystar.com. Retrieved December 30, 2016.
  26. ↑ "Colts' Robert Mathis: Sunday will be my final game". NFL.com. December 30, 2016.
  27. ↑ "Colts OLB-Robert Mathis named AFC Defensive Player of the Week". blogs.colts.com. January 4, 2017. Retrieved January 4, 2017.
  28. ↑ Lindquist, David (November 19, 2013). "Watch preview of Colts-themed "Parks and Rec" episode". indystar.com. Retrieved March 27, 2015.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.