# Jerome Mathis

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**Jerome Alvon Mathis** (born July 26, 1983) is an American former professional [football](/source/Gridiron_football) player who was a [wide receiver](/source/Wide_receiver) and [kick returner](/source/Kick_returner) in the [National Football League](/source/National_Football_League) (NFL). He was selected by the [Houston Texans](/source/Houston_Texans) in the fourth round of the [2005 NFL draft](/source/2005_NFL_draft).[1] He earned a [Pro Bowl](/source/Pro_Bowl) selection and was an All-Pro with the Texans in [2005](/source/2006_Pro_Bowl). He also played in the [Canadian Football League](/source/Canadian_Football_League) (NFL) and [Arena Football League](/source/Arena_Football_League) (AFL).

## Early life

Mathis attended [Petersburg High School](/source/Petersburg_High_School_(Virginia)) in Petersburg, where he was an all-state, all-district and all-metro wide receiver and kick returner.

### Track and field

Mathis left high school as a six time state champion in [track](/source/Track_and_field), winning the 2001 national indoor [200 meter](/source/200_meter) title, and setting the 7th fastest time in the nation with 21.79 seconds, at the [Nike](/source/Nike,_Inc.) Classic. He also set the joint 5th fastest [55 metres](/source/55_metres) time in the nation that year with 6.29 seconds, faster than [Tyson Gay](/source/Tyson_Gay), and the 2nd fastest 300 meter indoor time with 34.03 seconds.[2]

Mathis also competed in the [long jump](/source/Long_jump), posting a personal best of 7.50 meters at [Landover, Maryland](/source/Landover,_Maryland) in 2003.

**Personal bests**

Event Time (seconds) Venue Date 60 meters 6.93 Landover, Idaho January 4, 2003 100 meters 10.49 Orlando, Florida May 8, 2003 200 meters 20.32 Gainesville, Florida May 29, 2004 400 meters 46.06 University Park, Virginia January 31, 2004

Event Mark (meters) Venue Date Long Jump 7.50 Landover, Maryland February 22, 2003

## College career

Mathis holds the [NCAA](/source/National_Collegiate_Athletic_Association) record for career kick return average, breaking the record set by [John Taylor](/source/John_Taylor_(American_football)) of [Delaware State University](/source/Delaware_State_University), with an average of 26.6 yards per return.[citation needed] He also holds the NCAA record for career kickoff returns for a [touchdown](/source/Touchdown) with six.

## Professional career

### Pre-draft

Mathis recorded the fourth fastest [40-yard dash](/source/40-yard_dash) time (4.26 seconds) ever at the [NFL Combine](/source/NFL_Combine), which was broken by [Chris Johnson](/source/Chris_Johnson_(running_back)) in 2008, [John Ross](/source/John_Ross_(American_football)) in 2017, and [Xavier Worthy](/source/Xavier_Worthy) in 2024. His time was tied by [Dri Archer](/source/Dri_Archer) in 2014.[3]

### Houston Texans

In his [rookie](/source/Rookie) [season](/source/2005_NFL_season) with the Texans, he was selected to the [Pro Bowl](/source/2006_Pro_Bowl) for the [AFC](/source/American_Football_Conference) to be their starter as a kick returner. He was one of three rookies ([Shawne Merriman](/source/Shawne_Merriman), [linebacker](/source/Linebacker), of the [San Diego Chargers](/source/San_Diego_Chargers) and [Lofa Tatupu](/source/Lofa_Tatupu), linebacker, of the [Seattle Seahawks](/source/Seattle_Seahawks), being the others) selected to be participants in the game.

Mathis fractured his left foot in January 2006 during the Pro Bowl, but it wasn't discovered until OTA's months later. He was expected to miss only four months, but instead missed six months.[4] He returned to practice in November 2006 after missing the first nine games of the [season](/source/2006_NFL_season).[5] He was later placed on [Injured Reserve](/source/Injured_Reserve). Mathis then played in only three games in [2007](/source/2007_NFL_season) even returning one kick for a touchdown before once again being place on Injured Reserve.

Mathis was a [restricted free agent](/source/Restricted_free_agent) following the 2007 season; the Texans declined to offer him another contract.

### Washington Redskins

On April 4, 2008, Mathis was signed by the [Washington Redskins](/source/Washington_Redskins). He was waived by the team on May 15.

### Toronto Argonauts

Mathis signed with the [Toronto Argonauts](/source/Toronto_Argonauts) of the [Canadian Football League](/source/Canadian_Football_League) on May 11, 2009,[6] and was hoped to replace the loss of [Dominique Dorsey](/source/Dominique_Dorsey) to the NFL as [kick returner](/source/Kick_returner) on special teams[7] but was hampered by injuries and cut at the end of training camp.[8][9] He was re-signed on September 17. On November 6, 2009, Mathis was released by the Argonauts.

### Pittsburgh Power

Mathis signed with the [Pittsburgh Power](/source/Pittsburgh_Power) of the [Arena Football League](/source/Arena_Football_League) on January 4, 2011.[10] Mathis had a career game on June 11, 2011, against the [Tampa Bay Storm](/source/Tampa_Bay_Storm), setting new Power single-game franchise records for yards receiving (195), longest reception (46 yards), and longest kick return (57 yards). He also tied Mike Washington's single-game franchise record with 12 receptions and had the first kick return touchdown in Power history. Mathis played in 9 games for the Power, catching 30 passes for 418 yards and 7 touchdowns. He also returned 31 kickoffs for 688 yards and 1 touchdown.

### NFL statistics

Career statistics Receiving Year Team G Rec Yards Y/R TD LNG 2005 Houston Texans 12 5 65 13.0 1 34 2006 Houston Texans 2 0 0 0 0 0 2007 Houston Texans 3 1 15 15.0 0 15 Total 17 6 80 13.3 1 34

Career statistics Returning Year Team G KR Yards Y/R FC TD LNG PR Yards Y/R FC TD LNG 2005 Houston Texans 12 54 1,542 28.6 0 2 99 12 68 5.7 0 0 19 2006 Houston Texans 2 7 192 27.4 0 0 87 0 0 0 0 0 0 2007 Houston Texans 3 11 320 29.0 0 1 84 0 0 0 0 0 0 Total 17 72 2,154 28.5 0 3 99 12 68 5.7 0 0 19

## Legal troubles

In December 2007, Mathis was issued a misdemeanor citation for loose dogs after his neighbors complained that they were harassed by his escaped [pit bulls](/source/Pit_bulls). Mathis allowed the dogs to remain loose and kept unvaccinated animals. Officers captured one dog and three puppies near Mathis's [Manvel](/source/Manvel,_Texas) home. No injuries were reported.[11]

Mathis was arrested on February 19, 2008, following a domestic violence incident, but the charges were dropped.[12]

## References

1. ["2005 NFL Draft Listing"](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2005/draft.htm). *Pro-Football-Reference.com*. Retrieved 2023-05-07.

1. ["Track and Field News: Lists: High School Performances: Indoor: 2001"](https://web.archive.org/web/20100516063424/http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/lists/lists2001/prepin_m.html). Archived from [the original](http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/lists/lists2001/prepin_m.html) on 2010-05-16. Retrieved 2010-04-23.

1. ["347-pound Vita Vea wants John Ross to know the 40-yard dash record's going down"](https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/347-pound-vita-vea-wants-john-ross-to-know-the-40-yard-dash-records-going-down/). March 3, 2018.

1. [Texans lose Pro Bowl return man Mathis till October](https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=2466292)

1. [Texans Pro Bowl returner Mathis returns to practice](https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=2663575)

1. ["Argos sign QB Reaves, Former NFL Pro Bowler Mathis"](https://www.tsn.ca/cfl/story/?id=278347). TSN. May 11, 2009. Retrieved 2009-05-11.

1. Koshan, Terry (2009-06-20). ["Mathis ready to bust out here"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160310094139/http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Football/CFL/Toronto/2009/06/20/9872456-sun.html). Toronto Sun. Archived from [the original](http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Football/CFL/Toronto/2009/06/20/9872456-sun.html) on March 10, 2016. Retrieved 2009-06-21.

1. The Canadian Press (2009-06-25). ["Running back Ebell among 21 players released by Argonauts"](https://www.tsn.ca/cfl/story/?id=282845). TSN.ca. Retrieved 2009-06-25.

1. Koshan, Terry (2009-06-25). ["Argos to dice and slice"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160309150901/http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Football/CFL/Toronto/2009/06/25/9921066-sun.html). Toronto Sun. Archived from [the original](http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Football/CFL/Toronto/2009/06/25/9921066-sun.html) on March 9, 2016. Retrieved 2009-06-25. Jerome Mathis suffered a left knee injury, not an ankle injury as originally thought, against the Ticats in Steeltown on Tuesday night, and is out indefinitely.

1. ["Pittsburgh Power Football Players"](https://web.archive.org/web/20110211003922/http://www.pittsburghpowerfootball.com/team2.jsp). Archived from [the original](http://www.pittsburghpowerfootball.com/team2.jsp) on 2011-02-11. Retrieved 2011-09-02.

1. ["Texans' Mathis cited for loose pit bulls"](https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=3151141). *ESPN*. Associated Press. December 12, 2007.

1. Stewart, Richard (March 21, 2008). ["Assault charges dropped against former Texan Mathis"](https://www.chron.com/sports/texans/article/Assault-charges-dropped-against-former-Texan-1542924.php). *Houston Chronicle*. Retrieved August 3, 2018.

## External links

- [Stats Crew](http://www.justsportsstats.com/footballstatsindex.php?player_id=mathijer001&recsort=4)
- [Houston Texans bio](http://www.houstontexans.com/team/player.asp?player_id=149) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20080311212814/http://www.houstontexans.com/team/player.asp?player_id=149) 2008-03-11 at the Wayback Machine
- [Toronto Argonauts bio](https://web.archive.org/web/20090918095859/http://www.argonauts.ca/index.php/roster/show/id/2483)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Jerome Mathis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerome_Mathis) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerome_Mathis?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.