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Robert Mathis

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For the United States Air Force general, see Robert C. Mathis.

Robert Mathis
refer to caption
Mathis with the Colts in 2016
Indianapolis Colts
Position:Pass rush consultant
Player development
Personal information
Born: (1981-02-26) February 26, 1981 (age 43)
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)[a]
Career NFL statistics
Games played:192
Starts:121
Total tackles:538
Sacks:123
Forced fumbles:54
Fumble recoveries:17
Safeties:1
Defensive touchdowns:3
Stats at Pro Football Reference

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 two-time All-Pro and 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.

Early life

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

College career

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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

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2003–2005

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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

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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

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] He was ranked 44th by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2011.[11]

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.[12] On January 23, 2012, Mathis decided not to play in Pro Bowl.[13] Mathis recorded 33 tackles, 8 sacks, and 1 forced fumble in 12 games during the 2012 season.[7]

2012–2016

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On March 5, 2012, Mathis signed a one-year tender worth $10.6 million.[14] He then signed a four-year $36 million contract on the same day.[14] 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.[15]

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.[16]

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.[17]

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.[18]

Mathis would lead the NFL in sacks with 19.5, a half sack more than Robert Quinn of the St. Louis Rams.[19] 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.[20] He finished second in the Defensive Player of the Year voting behind Luke Kuechly of the Carolina Panthers.[21]

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.[22]

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.[23] The Colts signed Mathis to a one-year extension on September 30, 2014.[24]

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.[25]

On December 30, 2016, Mathis announced that he would retire following the Colts Week 17 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.[26][27] 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.[28]

NFL career statistics

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Legend
Won the Super Bowl
NFL record
Led the league
Bold Career high

Regular season

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Year Team Games Tackles Interceptions Fumbles
GP GS Cmb Solo Ast Sck PD Int Yds Avg Lng TD FF FR Yds TD
2003 IND 16 0 25 21 4 3.5 2 0 0 0.0 0 0 3 1 0 0
2004 IND 16 1 36 32 4 10.5 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 6 3 26 0
2005 IND 13 0 56 45 11 11.5 2 0 0 0.0 0 0 8 0 0 0
2006 IND 16 16 65 50 15 9.5 4 0 0 0.0 0 0 4 2 0 0
2007 IND 13 12 37 31 6 7.0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 4 1 0 0
2008 IND 15 2 47 36 11 11.5 3 0 0 0.0 0 0 5 3 37 1
2009 IND 14 9 37 24 13 9.5 2 0 0 0.0 0 0 5 0 0 0
2010 IND 16 16 60 44 16 11.0 1 0 0 0.0 0 0 1 1 1 0
2011 IND 16 15 43 29 14 9.5 1 0 0 0.0 0 0 3 3 0 0
2012 IND 12 12 33 22 11 8.0 1 1 1 1.0 1 0 1 0 0 0
2013 IND 16 16 59 44 15 19.5 1 0 0 0.0 0 0 10 0 0 0
2014 IND 0 0 did not play due to injury
2015 IND 15 10 20 15 5 7.0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 1 1 0 1
2016 IND 14 12 20 15 5 5.0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 3 2 14 1
Career 192 121 538 408 130 123.0 18 1 1 1.0 1 0 54 17 78 3

Postseason

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Year Team Games Tackles Interceptions Fumbles
GP GS Cmb Solo Ast Sck PD Int Yds Avg Lng TD FF FR Yds TD
2003 IND 3 0 5 4 1 – 1 – – – – – – – – –
2004 IND 1 0 4 3 1 – – – – – – – – – – –
2005 IND 1 0 2 2 0 – 1 – – – – – – – – –
2006 IND 4 4 20 14 6 1.5 – – – – – – 3 1 0 0
2007 IND 1 0 – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
2008 IND 1 0 4 3 1 2.0 – – – – – – – – – –
2009 IND 3 3 8 5 3 – – – – – – – – – – –
2010 IND 1 1 2 2 0 – – – – – – – – – – –
2012 IND 1 1 5 3 2 1.0 – – – – – – – – – –
2013 IND 2 2 5 3 2 2.0 – – – – – – 2 0 0 0
2014 IND 0 0 did not play due to injury
Career 18 11 55 39 16 6.5 2 – – – – – 5 1 0 0

Personal life

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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.[29]

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.

Mathis a member of Straitway Truth Ministry, a Black Hebrew Israelite group that preaches Biblical literalism. He joined the group after he was introduced by former Colts teammate Daniel Muir.[30]

Notes

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  1. ^ Tied with Osi Umenyiora and Charles Tillman

References

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  1. ^ a b Alper, Josh (January 2, 2014). "Robert Mathis wins inaugural Deacon Jones Award". profootballtalk.nbcsports.com. Retrieved January 2, 2014.
  2. ^ "Robert Mathis Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved July 24, 2024.
  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. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "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. ^ "2011 NFL Top 100". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved July 24, 2024.
  12. ^ "Colts DE Robert Mathis added to Pro Bowl roster". indystar.com. Retrieved January 3, 2012.
  13. ^ "Colts defensive end Robert Mathis won't play in Sunday's Pro Bowl in Honolulu". indystar.com. Retrieved January 23, 2012.
  14. ^ a b "Robert Mathis".
  15. ^ "Recap: Detroit vs. Indianapolis". usatoday.com. December 2, 2012. Retrieved October 31, 2013.
  16. ^ "Colts OLB-Robert Mathis named AFC Defensive Player of the Month". colts.com. October 31, 2013. Archived from the original on November 2, 2013. Retrieved October 31, 2013.
  17. ^ Chappell, Mike (November 24, 2013). "Colts flaws vividly exposed in 40-11 loss". indystar.com. Retrieved December 2, 2013.
  18. ^ Bowen, Kevin (December 15, 2013). "Robert Mathis Breaks Franchise Sack Record". colts.com. Retrieved December 15, 2013.
  19. ^ Kelley, Craig (December 29, 2013). "Robert Mathis, NFL Sack Champion". colts.com. Retrieved December 30, 2013.
  20. ^ Alper, Josh (January 2, 2014). "Robert Mathis caps stellar season with AFC defensive player of the month". profootballtalk.nbcsports.com. Retrieved December 2, 2014.
  21. ^ "Panthers' Luke Kuechly is Defensive Player of the Year". NFL.com. Retrieved March 23, 2017.
  22. ^ Rosenthal, Greg (May 16, 2014). "Colts' Robert Mathis suspended four games for PEDs". NFL.com. Retrieved May 16, 2014.
  23. ^ Chappell, Mike (September 8, 2014). "Colts LB Robert Mathis tears Achilles, out for the season". Indianapolis Star. Retrieved September 8, 2014.
  24. ^ "Colts sign Mathis to extension through 2016". Sportsnet. September 30, 2014. Retrieved September 30, 2014.
  25. ^ Sports, IndyStar. "Colts' Robert Mathis named AFC Defensive Player of the Week". The Indianapolis Star.
  26. ^ Keefer, Zak (December 30, 2016). "Colts Robert Mathis announces retirement". indystar.com. Retrieved December 30, 2016.
  27. ^ "Colts' Robert Mathis: Sunday will be my final game". NFL.com. December 30, 2016. Archived from the original on December 31, 2016.
  28. ^ "Colts OLB-Robert Mathis named AFC Defensive Player of the Week". blogs.colts.com. January 4, 2017. Archived from the original on October 22, 2020. Retrieved January 4, 2017.
  29. ^ Lindquist, David (November 19, 2013). "Watch preview of Colts-themed "Parks and Rec" episode". indystar.com. Retrieved March 27, 2015.
  30. ^ Kahler, Kalyn (July 16, 2020). "Pray for Kabeer, Chapter III: The Followers, the Courtroom Drama and the Next Chapter". Sports Illustrated.
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