View source for Terance Mathis

{{Short description|American football player (born 1967)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2023}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| image          =
| caption        = 
| current_team   = Morehouse Maroon Tigers
| position       = <!-- [[Wide receiver]] -->[[Head coach]]
| number         = <!-- 81, 88 -->
| birth_date     = {{Birth date and age|1967|6|7}}
| birth_place    = [[Detroit, Michigan]], U.S.
| height_ft      = 5
| height_in      = 10
| weight_lb      = 185
| draftyear      = 1990
| draftround     = 6
| draftpick      = 140
| high_school    = [[Redan High School|Redan]] {{nowrap|([[Redan, Georgia]])}}
| college        = [[New Mexico Lobos football|New Mexico]]
| teams          =
* [[New York Jets]] ([[1990 NFL season|1990]]–[[1993 NFL season|1993]])
* [[Atlanta Falcons]] ([[1994 NFL season|1994]]–[[2001 NFL season|2001]])
* [[Pittsburgh Steelers]] ([[2002 NFL season|2002]])
| pastcoaching   =
* [[Savannah State Tigers football|Savannah State]] (2011–2012)<br/>Offensive coordinator & inside wide receivers coach
* [[Pinecrest Academy|Pinecrest Academy (GA)]] (2017–2019)<br/>Head coach
* [[Blessed Trinity Catholic High School|Blessed Trinity HS (GA)]] (2020)<br/>Assistant coach
* [[Fellowship Christian School|Fellowship Christian (GA)]] (2021)<br/>Assistant coach
* [[Morehouse Maroon Tigers football|Morehouse]] (2024–present)<br/>Head coach
| statlabel1     = [[Reception (American football)|Reception]]s
| statvalue1     = 689
| statlabel2     = Receiving Yards
| statvalue2     = 8,809
| statlabel3     = [[Touchdown]]s
| statvalue3     = 63
| highlights     =
* Second-team [[All-Pro]] ([[1994 All-Pro Team|1994]])
* [[Pro Bowl]] ([[1995 Pro Bowl|1994]])
* Consensus [[College Football All-America Team|All-American]] ([[1989 College Football All-America Team|1989]])
* Third-team All-American ([[1987 College Football All-America Team|1987]])
| pfr            = M/MathTe00
| CollegeHOF     = 2512
| regular_record = 
| playoff_record = 
| overall_record = College: {{Winning percentage|1|9|record=y}} 
}}

'''Terance Paul Mathis''' (born June 7, 1967) is an American [[college football]] coach and former player.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nascar.com/|title=NASCAR Official Home {{!}} Race results, schedule, standings, news, drivers|website=Official Site Of NASCAR|language=en-US|access-date=2019-04-02}}</ref> He is the head football coach for [[Morehouse College]], a position he has held since 2024. Mathis played professionally as a [[wide receiver]] in the [[National Football League]] (NFL), earning second-team [[All-Pro]] honors and a [[Pro Bowl]] selection with the [[Atlanta Falcons]] in 1994.

He played [[college football]] for the [[New Mexico Lobos football|New Mexico Lobos]], earning consensus [[College Football All-America Team|All-American]] honors in 1989. Selected in the [[1990 NFL draft]] by the [[New York Jets]], Mathis played the majority of his career with Atlanta. He last played in the NFL in 2002 with the [[Pittsburgh Steelers]], then retired after the conclusion of the 2002 season. Currently, he is second in career two-point conversions with six, behind [[Marshall Faulk| Marshall Faulk's]] seven.

On February 1, 2011, Mathis was named as the Offensive Coordinator at [[Savannah State University]].

On May 3, 2017, Mathis was named as the Head Football Coach at [[Pinecrest Academy]] in [[Cumming, Georgia]].

== Family ==
Mathis grew up as the son of Carole Mahone, his father died when he was six months old. His mother is also a [[breast cancer]] survivor, having beaten the disease two months before Mathis played in [[Super Bowl XXXIII]]. He and his wife Arnedia have a daughter named Terae and a son Terance Jr. Terance also has three other children Sydney, Erik, and Vanessa who just appeared in the Cherish music video "Unappreciated".

== High School & College ==
Mathis attended Redan High School in Stone Mountain, GA, and [[University of New Mexico]], where he played both football and [[basketball]]. In 1989, he became New Mexico's first consensus [[All-American]] after setting a [[Division I (NCAA)|Division I]] record for most receiving yards. He also became the first player to have more than 250 receptions, 4,000 receiving yards, and 6,000 yards total.

== NFL ==
After Mathis was drafted by the Jets in the sixth round of the 1990 NFL Draft,<ref>{{Cite web |title=1990 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1990/draft.htm |access-date=2023-05-25 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> he was used as a punt and kick returner. He had 43 kickoff returns for 787 yards, including one touchdown. He also had 19 receptions for 245 yards that season. The following year, he played in all sixteen games for the Jets, starting one. He had 28 receptions for 329 yards and one touchdown. He led the team in kickoff returns, piling up 599 yards. Mathis played with the Jets until 1994, starting two more games and scoring four touchdowns total.

In 1994, Mathis signed as an [[unrestricted free agent]] with the Atlanta Falcons. That season, he set a club record by catching 111 passes, becoming the eighth player in the history of the NFL to exceed the 100-catch mark in one season. He also ranked in third in the NFL that season in touchdown receptions. He played on the NFC [[Pro Bowl]] squad at the end of the season. He had his second consecutive 1000-yard season the following year despite missing the only two games of his career due to an injury. In 1996, Mathis caught for 771 yards to give him a career total of 3,000 yards.

In 1998, Mathis made his first post-season appearance for the Falcons, and made a three-yard touch down catch for the Falcons in [[Super Bowl XXXIII]]. He also led the team in receptions in that game, making seven for eighty-five yards. The following season, he passed [[Andre Rison]] as the club's all-time reception leader. Two years later, he passed Rison on the team's all-time touchdown list. After the season, he was released from the Falcons, and signed with the [[Pittsburgh Steelers]]. He did not start a game, but had two touchdown receptions and 218 receiving yards. After Pittsburgh chose not to re-sign him, he retired from the NFL.

He is third in Falcons history in touchdown receptions (57), after runner-up [[Julio Jones]] (60; 2011–2020), and first place [[Roddy White]] (63; 2005–2015); and third in receiving yards (7,349), behind runner-up White (10,863), and first place Jones (12,896).

== Charity ==
Mathis was selected as the Atlanta Falcons' "Man of the Year" in 1998 for his accomplishments on and off the field. In 1996, he founded the "'''Terance Loves Children'''" foundation, now known as the '''Terance Mathis Foundation.'''

== NASCAR ==
In June 2005, Mathis announced the formation of his own [[NASCAR]] team, '''Victory Motorsports''', with [[Carl Long]] and [[Morty Buckles]] as scheduled drivers. Established Cup team [[Morgan-McClure Motorsports]] (which received support and engines from [[Hendrick Motorsports]]) would provide technical support for the new No. 04 [[Chevrolet]]. Mathis and the 34-year-old Buckles ambitiously planned 20 Cup races and a dozen ARCA races for 2006, but the deal never fully materialized.<ref>{{cite web|author1=Performance Racing Network|author-link=Performance Racing Network|title=Buckles Advances Out Of Drive For Diversity(SM) Program|url=http://blackathlete.net/2005/07/buckles-advances-out-of-drive-for-diversitysm-program/|website=Blackathlete.net|publisher=Black Athlete Sports Network|accessdate=1 September 2014|location=[[Charlotte, North Carolina]]|date=July 6, 2005|archive-date=8 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208050348/http://blackathlete.net/2005/07/buckles-advances-out-of-drive-for-diversitysm-program/|url-status=usurped}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Mccall|first1=David D.|title=Door To Door|url=https://www.espn.com/espn/news/story?id=3704508&campaign=rsssrch&source=nascar|website=[[ESPN]]|access-date=1 September 2014|date=February 27, 2006}}</ref> In June 2006, it had been announced Mathis had acquired [[R&J Racing]], but that deal fell through.  In February 2013, he was named Vice President of Marketing for part-time [[Sprint Cup Series]] team [[Leavine Family Racing]].

==Coaching career==

In 2011, Mathis was named as the [[offensive coordinator]] and inside receivers coach for [[Savannah State University]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Terance Mathis - Football Coach |url=https://ssuathletics.com/sports/football/roster/coaches/terance-mathis/128 |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=Savannah State University Athletics |language=en}}</ref>

In 2017, Mathis was named head football coach for [[Pinecrest Academy]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-05-23 |title=Pinecrest Academy hires former Falcon’s player Terance Mathis |url=https://www.appenmedia.com/sports/pinecrest-academy-hires-former-falcon-s-player-terance-mathis/article_1858c984-b4bd-5bd6-a623-e77c633235d0.html |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=Appen Media |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-05-04 |title=Pinecrest Welcomes New Varsity Football Head Coach |url=https://www.pinecrestacademy.org/news-detail?pk=1105230 |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=Pinecrest Academy |language=en}}</ref> he was not retained following the 2019 season.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-05-27 |title=Forsyth County sees a new wave of high school football |url=https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/mynews/cumming/forsyth-county-sees-a-new-wave-of-high-school-football-coaches/85-79ae4332-452e-4c2c-92af-cd0714bcda1d |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=11Alive.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

On February 2, 2024, Mathis was named head football coach for [[Morehouse College]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Writer |first=Sean Reider / Journal Staff |date=2024-02-02 |title=UNM great Terance Mathis named head coach at Morehouse College |url=https://www.abqjournal.com/sports/unm-great-terance-mathis-named-head-coach-at-morehouse-college/article_0ad2643c-c22f-11ee-a878-27aaff64f998.html |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=Albuquerque Journal |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-02-02 |title=Former Falcons receiver named next Morehouse football coach |url=https://www.11alive.com/article/sports/local-sports/former-falcons-wide-receiver-terance-mathis-next-morehouse-college-head-football-coach/85-8860158f-0287-40b6-ad48-581c11b473ab |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=11Alive.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Barnes |first=Randall |date=2024-02-02 |title=Morehouse hires former Atlanta Falcons WR Terance Mathis as head football coach |url=https://clutchpoints.com/morehouse-hires-former-atlanta-falcons-wr-terance-mathis-as-head-football-coach |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=ClutchPoints {{!}} Atlanta Falcons News |language=en}}</ref>

==NFL career statistics==
===Regular season===
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Team
! colspan="2"| Games
! colspan="5"| Receiving
|-
! GP !! GS !! Rec !! Yds !! Avg !! Lng !! TD 
|-
! [[1990 NFL season|1990]] !! [[1990 New York Jets season|NYJ]]
| '''16''' || 1 || 19 || 245 || 12.9 || 23 || 0
|-
! [[1991 NFL season|1991]] !! [[1991 New York Jets season|NYJ]]
| '''16''' || 1 || 28 || 329 || 11.8 || 39 || 1
|-
! [[1992 NFL season|1992]] !! [[1992 New York Jets season|NYJ]]
| '''16''' || 1 || 22 || 316 || 14.4 || 55 || 3
|-
! [[1993 NFL season|1993]] !! [[1993 New York Jets season|NYJ]]
| '''16''' || 3 || 24 || 352 || 14.7 || 46 || 0
|-
! [[1994 NFL season|1994]] !! [[1994 Atlanta Falcons season|ATL]]
| '''16''' || '''16''' || '''111''' || '''1,342''' || 12.1 || '''81''' || '''11'''
|-
! [[1995 NFL season|1995]] !! [[1995 Atlanta Falcons season|ATL]]
| 14 || 12 || 78 || 1,039 || 13.3 || 54 || 9 
|-
! [[1996 NFL season|1996]] !! [[1996 Atlanta Falcons season|ATL]]
| '''16''' || '''16''' || 69 || 771 || 11.2 || 55 || 7
|-
! [[1997 NFL season|1997]] !! [[1997 Atlanta Falcons season|ATL]]
| '''16''' || '''16''' || 62 || 802 || 12.9 || 49 || 6
|-
! [[1998 NFL season|1998]] !! [[1998 Atlanta Falcons season|ATL]]
| '''16''' || '''16''' || 64 || 1,136 || '''17.8''' || 78 || '''11'''
|-
! [[1999 NFL season|1999]] !! [[1999 Atlanta Falcons season|ATL]]
| '''16''' || '''16''' || 81 || 1,016 || 12.5 || 52 || 6
|-
! [[2000 NFL season|2000]] !! [[2000 Atlanta Falcons season|ATL]]
| '''16''' || '''16''' || 57 || 679 || 11.9 || 44 || 5 
|-
! [[2001 NFL season|2001]] !! [[2001 Atlanta Falcons season|ATL]]
| '''16''' || '''16''' || 51 || 564 || 11.1 || 34 || 2
|-
! [[2002 NFL season|2002]] !! [[2002 Pittsburgh Steelers season|PIT]]
| '''16''' || 0 || 23 || 218 || 9.5 || 22 || 2
|-
! colspan="2"| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/MathTe00.htm Career] !! 206 !! 130 !! 689 !! 8,809 !! 12.8 !! 81 !! 63
|}

==Head coaching record==
===College===
{{CFB Yearly Record Start | type = coach | team = | conf = | bowl = | poll = no }}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
 | name      = [[Morehouse Maroon Tigers football|Morehouse Maroon Tigers]]
 | conf      = [[Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference]]
 | startyear = 2024
 | endyear   = 
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | year         = [[2024 NCAA Division II football season|2024]]
 | name         = Morehouse
 | overall      = 1–9
 | conference   = 1–7
 | confstanding = T–11th
 | bowlname     = 
 | bowloutcome  = 
 | bcsbowl      =
 | ranking      = no
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal
 | name       = Morehouse
 | overall    = 1–9
 | confrecord = 1–7
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record End
 | overall  = 1–9
 | bowls    = no
 | poll     = no
 | polltype = 
 | legend   = no
}}

===High school===
{{CFB Yearly Record Start | type = coach | team = | conf = | bowl = | poll = no }}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
 | name      = [[Pinecrest Academy|Pinecrest Academy Paladins]]
 | conf      = 
 | startyear = 2017
 | endyear   = 2019
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | year         = 2017
 | name         = Pinecrest Academy
 | overall      = 1–10
 | conference   = 0–7
 | confstanding = 8th
 | bowlname     = 
 | bowloutcome  = 
 | bcsbowl      =
 | ranking      = no
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | year         = 2018
 | name         = Pinecrest Academy
 | overall      = 4–7
 | conference   = 3–4
 | confstanding = 5th
 | bowlname     = 
 | bowloutcome  = 
 | bcsbowl      =
 | ranking      = no
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | year         = 2019
 | name         = Pinecrest Academy
 | overall      = 2–8
 | conference   = 1–6
 | confstanding = 7th
 | bowlname     = 
 | bowloutcome  = 
 | bcsbowl      =
 | ranking      = no
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal
 | name       = Pinecrest Academy
 | overall    = 7–25
 | confrecord = 4–17
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record End
 | overall  = 7–25
 | bowls    = no
 | poll     = no
 | polltype = 
 | legend   = no
}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://ssuathletics.com/sports/football/roster/coaches/terance-mathis/128 Savannah State profile]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20021030141929/http://www.pittsburghsteelers.com/team/playerbio.cfm?player_id=5711 Pittsburghsteelers.com bio]
*[http://www.nfl.com/players/playerpage/1189 NFL.com stats]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20010618104536/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/nfl/1998/playoffs/news/1999/01/29/mathis_package/ Falcon's Mathis using Super Bowl week to make impact.]

{{1989 NCAA Division I-A College Football Consensus All-Americans}}
{{Jets1990DraftPicks}}
{{Morehouse Maroon Tigers football coach navbox}}
{{Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football coach navbox}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mathis, Terance}}
[[Category:1967 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:All-American college football players]]
[[Category:American football wide receivers]]
[[Category:Atlanta Falcons players]]
[[Category:High school football coaches in Georgia (U.S. state)]]
[[Category:Morehouse Maroon Tigers football coaches]]
[[Category:NASCAR team owners]]
[[Category:National Conference Pro Bowl players]]
[[Category:New Mexico Lobos football players]]
[[Category:New York Jets players]]
[[Category:Pittsburgh Steelers players]]
[[Category:Savannah State Tigers football coaches]]
[[Category:Coaches of American football from Michigan]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Detroit]]
[[Category:College Football Hall of Fame inductees]]