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Rashean Mathis

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Rashean Mathis
refer to caption
Mathis with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2009
No. 27, 31
Position:Cornerback
Personal information
Born: (1980-08-27) August 27, 1980 (age 44)
Nashville, Georgia, U.S.
Height:6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:195 lb (88 kg)
Career information
High school:Englewood (Jacksonville, Florida)
College:Bethune–Cookman (1999–2002)
NFL draft:2003 / round: 2 / pick: 39
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Total tackles:649
Forced fumbles:9
Fumble recoveries:5
Pass deflections:132
Interceptions:32
Defensive touchdowns:4
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Rashean Jamil Mathis (/rəˈʃiːn/ rə-SHEEN; born August 27, 1980) 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.

Early life

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Mathis attended Englewood High School in Jacksonville at the same time as Brett Myers of the Chicago White Sox, and was a letterman in football. In football, he was a second team All-State, All-Conference, and an All-City honoree. Central Florida Community College and Indian River Community Colleges offered him scholarships to play center field.

College career

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Mathis enrolled at Bethune-Cookman University where he played for the Bethune–Cookman Wildcats football team. He did not receive any scholarship offers from larger schools because he broke his leg during high school.[citation needed]

He recorded 14 interceptions during his senior season, which is the FCS record for the most interceptions in a single season.[1] He also holds the career interceptions record for all Division I football divisions, with 31 in his collegiate career.[2]

In 2002, he won the Buck Buchanan Award, awarded yearly to the most outstanding defensive player in the FCS.[3]

Professional career

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Pre-draft

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Mathis attended the NFL Scouting Combine and performed all of the combine and positional drills. At the conclusion of the pre-draft process, Mathis was projected to be a second or third round pick by NFL draft experts and scouts. He was ranked as the top free safety prospect by DraftScout.com and was ranked as the second best safety by NFL analyst Mike Mayock.[4]

Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
6 ft 1 in
(1.85 m) 		202 lb
(92 kg) 		4.45 s 1.61 s 2.60 s 4.17 s 7.09 s 38+1⁄2 in
(0.98 m)		 10 ft 3 in
(3.12 m)		 22 reps
All values from NFL Combine[5]

Jacksonville Jaguars

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The Jacksonville Jaguars selected Mathis in the second round (39th overall) of the 2003 NFL draft.[6] Mathis was the second safety selected in 2003, behind Marcus Trufant (11th overall).[7] He was also the eighth defensive back drafted in 2003 and was the first player selected from Bethune-Cookman since Antwuan Wyatt was drafted in 1997. Mathis also became the third highest draft pick from Bethune-Cookman, behind defensive tackle Booker Reese (32nd overall, 1982) and defensive back Terry Williams (37th overall, 1988).[8]

“When the phone rang and it was them it was a relief. I think it's a great opportunity for me. I kind of knew, if I was still around, that I would be a high priority for Jacksonville. You can't paint a more perfect picture than this, coming home and playing in your hometown.”[7]

–Rashean Mathis

On July 24, 2003, the Jacksonville Jaguars signed Mathis to a four-year, $3.17 million contract.[9]

Mathis entered training camp slated as a starting safety. Head coach Jack Del Rio named Mathis the starting free safety to begin the regular season, alongside strong safety Donovan Darius.

He made his professional regular season debut and first career start in the Jacksonville Jaguars' season-opener at the Carolina Panthers and made two combined tackles, a pass deflection, and his first career interception off a pass by quarterback Jake Delhomme in their 24–23 loss. In Week 6, Mathis was converted to cornerback due to injuries to Jason Craft and Kiwaukee Thomas.[10] In Week 10, he collected a season-high nine solo tackles during a 28–23 victory against the Indianapolis Colts. He started in all 16 games in 2003 and made a career-high 81 combined tackles (71 solo), nine pass deflections, and two interceptions.[11]

Mathis entered training camp slated as the No. 1 starting cornerback after Fernando Bryant departed in free agency. Head coach Jack Del Rio named Mathis and Dewayne Washington the starting cornerbacks to begin the regular season.[12]

He had his most productive year in 2006, collecting eight interceptions (tied for third in the league) and being voted to the Pro Bowl where he started alongside Champ Bailey. He and John Henderson were the only Jaguars on the team to attend the Pro Bowl that year.

On August 24, 2005, the Jacksonville Jaguars signed Mathis to a five-year, $25.50 million contract extension that includes $9.40 million guaranteed.[13][14]

Mathis had his most significant game as a professional on January 5, 2008, in an AFC Wild Card playoff game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. He had two interceptions, returning one for a touchdown.

On December 1, 2008, Mathis sustained a knee injury against the Houston Texans and was put on the injured reserve list, ending his season.

On November 16, 2009, Mathis injured his groin while breaking up a pass in a win over the New York Jets. He would only play in one other game during the 2009 season, missing the rest because of the lingering injury.

On November 13, 2011, Mathis tore his ACL against the Indianapolis Colts, ending his season.

On March 8, 2012, Mathis agreed on a one-year, $5 million contract with the Jaguars.[15]

On March 5, 2013, the Jaguars announced they would not offer Mathis a new contract.

Detroit Lions

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Mathis with the Lions in 2014

On August 17, 2013, Mathis signed a one-year contract with the Detroit Lions.[16] He re-signed with the Lions on April 14, 2014.[17] On March 19, 2015, the Lions re-signed Mathis to a two-year, $3.5 million contract.[18][19]

On February 16, 2016, Mathis announced his retirement.[20]

On April 13, 2016, Mathis signed a one-day contract to retire as a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars.[21]

External videos
video icon Classic Jags: Rashean Mathis

Jaguars franchise records

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  • Most career interceptions: 30 [22]
  • Most career interception return yards: 512 [22]
  • Most career passes defended: 104 [22]

NFL statistics

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Year Team GP COMB TOTAL AST SACK FF FR FR YDS INT IR YDS AVG IR LNG TD PD
2003 JAX 16 81 71 10 0.0 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 7
2004 JAX 16 63 53 10 0.0 1 0 0 5 42 8 21 0 16
2005 JAX 16 69 60 9 0.0 0 1 0 5 79 16 41 1 11
2006 JAX 16 63 56 7 0.0 0 0 0 8 146 18 55 0 12
2007 JAX 14 58 53 5 0.0 1 0 0 1 23 23 23 0 6
2008 JAX 12 40 39 1 1.0 1 1 0 4 151 38 72 2 9
2009 JAX 10 33 29 4 0.0 2 1 0 3 46 15 29 0 7
2010 JAX 16 57 46 11 0.0 1 0 0 1 24 24 24 0 6
2011 JAX 9 34 32 2 0.0 0 1 0 1 1 1 1 0 4
2012 JAX 12 20 20 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5
2013 DET 15 47 44 3 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 15
2014 DET 16 51 42 9 0.0 1 0 0 1 41 41 41 1 9
2015 DET 7 31 28 3 0.0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 4
Career 175 647 573 74 1.0 8 5 0 32 553 17 72 4 111

[13]

Key

  • GP: games played
  • COMB: combined tackles
  • TOTAL: total tackles
  • AST: assisted tackles
  • SACK: sacks
  • FF: forced fumbles
  • FR: fumble recoveries
  • FR YDS: fumble return yards
  • INT: interceptions
  • IR YDS: interception return yards
  • AVG IR: average interception return
  • LNG: longest interception return
  • TD: interceptions returned for touchdown
  • PD: passes defensed

In the media

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In 2006, Mathis appeared as a celebrity contestant on Wheel of Fortune during NFL Players Week.[23]

References

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  1. ^ "Football Championship Subdivision Records" (PDF). NCAA. 2017.
  2. ^ "Football Bowl Subdivision Records" (PDF). 2020.
  3. ^ "Rashean Mathis Defensive Statistics". Archived from the original on October 5, 2010. Retrieved March 7, 2010.
  4. ^ "Mel Kiper Jr's top prospects for the 2003 NFL draft". blackandgold.com. Retrieved August 3, 2018.
  5. ^ "Rashean Mathis, DS #1 FS, Bethune-Cookman". draftscout.com. Retrieved August 3, 2018.
  6. ^ "2003 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  7. ^ a b "Ex-Englewood star back home". Archived from the original on August 3, 2018. Retrieved August 3, 2018.
  8. ^ "Bethune-Cookman Drafted Players/Alumni". pro-football-reference.com. Retrieved August 3, 2018.
  9. ^ Pasquerelli, Len (August 24, 2005). "Mathis' new deal includes nearly $10M in bonuses". ESPN.com. Retrieved August 3, 2018.
  10. ^ "Locker Room prop costs Jags their punter". Ocala.com. Retrieved August 3, 2018.
  11. ^ "NFL Player stats: Rashean Mathis (2003)". NFL.com. Retrieved August 3, 2018.
  12. ^ Stilino, Vito (September 3, 2004). "Jags look to build on last season's success". ESPN.com. Retrieved August 3, 2018.
  13. ^ a b "Rashean Mathis Stats". ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved March 25, 2014.
  14. ^ "Hope for a new contract keeps Rashean Mathis away from Jaguars OTAs". staugustine.com. May 18, 2010. Archived from the original on August 3, 2018. Retrieved August 3, 2018.
  15. ^ Jags re-sign Rashean Mathis to one-year, $5 million deal
  16. ^ Sessler, Marc (August 17, 2013). "Rashean Mathis, Detroit Lions sign one-year contract". NFL.com. Retrieved August 18, 2013.
  17. ^ Gantt, Darin (April 14, 2014). "Lions bring back Rashean Mathis for another year". Pro Football Talk. Retrieved April 14, 2014.
  18. ^ Twentyman, Tim (March 18, 2015). "Lions re-sign cornerback Rashean Mathis". NFL.com. Archived from the original on March 21, 2015. Retrieved March 18, 2015.
  19. ^ Twentyman, Tim (March 19, 2015). "CB Rashean Mathis grateful to be back for year 13". NFL.com. Archived from the original on March 21, 2015. Retrieved March 19, 2015.
  20. ^ Patra, Kevin (February 16, 2016). "Lions CB Rashean Mathis announces retirement". NFL.com. Retrieved February 16, 2016.
  21. ^ Carlyon, Hays (April 13, 2016). "Rashean Mathis touched by Jaguars honorary retirement ceremony". The Florida Times-Union. Retrieved July 27, 2016.
  22. ^ a b c "Jacksonville Jaguars Defense Career Register". pro-football-reference.com. Retrieved September 22, 2012.
  23. ^ "'Wheel of Fortune' and PLAYERS INC Score Big With Tenth Annual... -- re> CULVER CITY, Calif., Jan. 23 /PRNewswire/ --". Archived from the original on March 3, 2016.
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