Age: 26
4th
season in pro football & with Jaguars
College: Bethune-Cookman
Height: 6’1” Weight: 195
Prelude:
Mathis
intercepted 31 passes in college, playing both cornerback and free safety, and
was a three-time Division I-AA All-American. He was chosen by the Jaguars in
the second round of the 2003 NFL draft and moved directly into the starting
lineup at cornerback, where, while still something of a raw talent, he
impressed with his speed and size. Mathis improved in 2004 and intercepted five
passes and followed up with another five in ’05, one of which he returned for a
touchdown. He showed good playmaking ability and also was effective against the
run.
2006 Season Summary
Appeared in all
16 games
[Bracketed
numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]
Interceptions
– 8 [3, tied with Nnamdi Asomugha, Walt Harris & Charles Woodson]
Most
interceptions, game – 2 vs. Pittsburgh 9/18, vs. Tennessee 11/5
Int. return
yards – 146 [3, tied with Adrian Wilson]
Most int.
return yards, game – 55 (on 2 int.) vs. Tennessee 11/5
Int. TDs – 0
Sacks – 0
Fumble
recoveries – 0
Tackles – 56
Assists – 7
Punt Returns
Returns – 2
Yards – 9
Average per
return – 4.5
TDs – 0
Longest
return – 9 yards
Awards &
Honors:
1st
team All-NFL: AP, PFWA, Sporting News
Pro Bowl
Jaguars went 8-8
to finish third in the AFC South.
Aftermath:
With opposing
quarterbacks throwing away from him, Mathis had just one interception in 2007
and his performance slipped in ’08 even though he ran two of his four
interceptions back for scores. He missed six games due to groin and finger
injuries in 2009 and, while back for all 16 games in 2010, Mathis was limited
to nine games in 2011 with a torn ACL. He moved on to the Detroit Lions as a
free agent in 2013 and exceeded expectations while providing veteran savvy and
leadership until retiring following the 2015 season. Overall, he played in 175
regular season games and intercepted 32 passes, a franchise-record 30 coming
with Jacksonville, with four returned for TDs.
--
Highlighted Years features players who were consensus
first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the
following statistical categories:
Rushing:
Yards, TDs (min. 10)
Passing:
Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating
Receiving:
Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)
Scoring: TDs,
Points, Field Goals (min. 5)
All-Purpose:
Total Yards
Defense:
Interceptions, Sacks
Kickoff
Returns: Average
Punt Returns:
Average
Punting:
Average
*Leagues
include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL
(1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)
**NFC/AFC
since 1970
