imported>NintendoTTTEfan2005: /* Early life */

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Early life

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{{Short description|American football player (born 1980)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2023}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Rashean Mathis
| image = Rashean Mathis in 2009.jpg
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption = Mathis with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2009
| number = 27, 31
| position = [[Cornerback]]
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1980|8|27|mf=y}}
| birth_place = [[Nashville, Georgia]], U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 1
| weight_lbs = 195
| high_school = [[Englewood High School (Florida)|Englewood]] {{nowrap|([[Jacksonville, Florida]])}}
| college = [[Bethune–Cookman Wildcats football|Bethune–Cookman]] (1999–2002)
| draftyear = 2003
| draftround = 2
| draftpick = 39
| pastteams =
* [[Jacksonville Jaguars]] ({{NFL Year|2003}}–{{NFL Year|2012}})
* [[Detroit Lions]] ({{NFL Year|2013}}–{{NFL Year|2015}})
| highlights =
* First-team [[All-Pro]] ([[2006 All-Pro Team|2006]])
* [[Pro Bowl]] ([[2007 Pro Bowl|2006]])
* [[Buck Buchanan Award]] ([[2002 NCAA Division I-AA football season|2002]])
* [[Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference|MEAC]] Defensive Player of the Year (2002)
* [[NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision|Div. I-AA]] [[College Football All-America Team|All-American]] (2002)
* 3× First-team All-[[Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference|MEAC]] (2000-2002)
| statlabel1 = [[Tackle (football move)|Total tackles]]
| statvalue1 = 649
| statlabel2 = [[Fumble|Forced fumbles]]
| statvalue2 = 9
| statlabel3 = [[Fumble|Fumble recoveries]]
| statvalue3 = 5
| statlabel4 = [[Pass deflections]]
| statvalue4 = 132
| statlabel5 = [[Interceptions]]
| statvalue5 = 32
| statlabel6 = [[Touchdown|Defensive touchdowns]]
| statvalue6 = 4
| pfr = M/MathRa99
}}

'''Rashean Jamil Mathis''' ({{IPAc-en|r|ə|ˈ|ʃ|iː|n}} {{respell|rə|SHEEN}}; born August 27, 1980) is an American former professional [[American football|football]] player who was a [[cornerback]] in the [[National Football League]] (NFL). He played [[college football]] for the [[Bethune–Cookman Wildcats football|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==
{{unsourced BLP section|date=June 2025}}
Mathis attended [[Englewood High School (Florida)|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==
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|date=March 2009}}

He recorded 14 interceptions during his senior season, which is the FCS record for the most interceptions in a single season.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017 |title=Football Championship Subdivision Records |url=http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_records/2017/FCS.pdf |website=NCAA}}</ref> He also holds the career interceptions record for all Division I football divisions, with 31 in his collegiate career.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020 |title=Football Bowl Subdivision Records |url=http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_records/2020/FBS.pdf}}</ref>

In 2002, he won the [[Buck Buchanan Award]], awarded yearly to the most outstanding defensive player in the FCS.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://tierwriting.com/2010/03/rashean-mathis-defensive-statistics/ |title=Rashean Mathis Defensive Statistics |access-date=March 7, 2010 |archive-date=October 5, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101005093815/http://tierwriting.com/2010/03/rashean-mathis-defensive-statistics/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Professional career==
===Pre-draft===
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]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Mel Kiper Jr's top prospects for the 2003 NFL draft |url=http://blackandgold.com/saints/520-mel-kiper-jrs-top-prospects-2003-nfl-draft.html |access-date=August 3, 2018 |website=blackandgold.com}}</ref>
{{nfl predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 1
| weight = 202
| dash = 4.45
| ten split = 1.61
| twenty split = 2.60
| shuttle = 4.17
| cone drill = 7.09
| vertical = 38 1/2
| broad ft = 10
| broad in = 3
| bench = 22
| wonderlic =
| arm span =
| hand span =
| note = All values from [[NFL Combine]]<ref name="scout">{{cite web |title=Rashean Mathis, DS #1 FS, Bethune-Cookman |url=http://www.draftscout.com/ratings/dsprofile.php?pyid=1167&draftyear=2003&genpos=fs |access-date=August 3, 2018 |website=draftscout.com}}</ref>
}}

===Jacksonville Jaguars===
The [[Jacksonville Jaguars]] selected Mathis in the second round (39th overall) of the [[2003 NFL draft]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=2003 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2003/draft.htm |access-date=2023-03-28 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> Mathis was the second safety selected in 2003, behind [[Marcus Trufant]] (11th overall).<ref name="home">{{cite web |title=Ex-Englewood star back home |url=https://www.questia.com/newspaper/1G1-100882537/ex-englewood-star-back-home |website= |access-date=2018-08-03 |archive-date=2018-08-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180803194809/https://www.questia.com/newspaper/1G1-100882537/ex-englewood-star-back-home |url-status=dead }}</ref> 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 NFL draft|1997]]. Mathis also became the third highest draft pick from Bethune-Cookman, behind defensive tackle [[Booker Reese]] (32nd overall, [[1982 NFL draft|1982]]) and defensive back [[Terry Williams (defensive back)|Terry Williams]] (37th overall, [[1988 NFL draft|1988]]).<ref>{{cite web |title=Bethune-Cookman Drafted Players/Alumni |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/schools/bethunecookman/drafted.htm |access-date=August 3, 2018 |website=pro-football-reference.com}}</ref>
{{quote box
|align=right
|width=33%
|quote=“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.”<ref name="home"/>
|source=–Rashean Mathis
}}
On July 24, 2003, the Jacksonville Jaguars signed Mathis to a four-year, [[United States dollar|$]]3.17 million contract.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mathis' new deal includes nearly $10M in bonuses |url=http://www.espn.in/nfl/columns/story?columnist=pasquarelli_len&id=2141206 |access-date=August 3, 2018 |website=ESPN.com |date=August 24, 2005 |author=Pasquerelli, Len}}</ref>

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 [[2003 Jacksonville Jaguars|Jacksonville Jaguars']] season-opener at the [[2003 Carolina Panthers|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]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Locker Room prop costs Jags their punter |url=http://www.ocala.com/news/20031010/locker-room-prop-costs-jags-their-punter |access-date=August 3, 2018 |website=Ocala.com}}</ref> In Week 10, he collected a season-high nine solo tackles during a 28–23 victory against the [[2003 Indianapolis Colts|Indianapolis Colts.]] He started in all 16 games in [[2003 NFL season|2003]] and made a career-high 81 combined tackles (71 solo), nine pass deflections, and two interceptions.<ref>{{cite web |title=NFL Player stats: Rashean Mathis (2003) |url=http://www.nfl.com/player/rasheanmathis/2505583/gamelogs?season=2003 |access-date=August 3, 2018 |website=NFL.com}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite web |title=Jags look to build on last season's success |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/preview04/news/story?page=jac/jaguars |access-date=August 3, 2018 |website=ESPN.com |author=Stilino, Vito |date=September 3, 2004}}</ref>

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 (defensive lineman)|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.<ref name="ESPN"/><ref>{{cite web |title=Hope for a new contract keeps Rashean Mathis away from Jaguars OTAs |url=http://www.staugustine.com/article/20100518/SPORTS/305189996 |access-date=August 3, 2018 |website=staugustine.com |date=May 18, 2010 |archive-date=August 3, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180803223812/http://www.staugustine.com/article/20100518/SPORTS/305189996 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

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.<ref>[http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/03/07/jags-re-sign-rashean-mathis-to-one-year-5-million-deal/ Jags re-sign Rashean Mathis to one-year, $5 million deal]</ref>

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

===Detroit Lions===
[[File:Rashean Mathis 2014.jpg|thumb|Mathis with the Lions in 2014]]
On August 17, 2013, Mathis signed a one-year contract with the [[Detroit Lions]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/rashean-mathis-detroit-lions-sign-one-year-contract-0ap1000000231070 |title=Rashean Mathis, Detroit Lions sign one-year contract |last=Sessler |first=Marc |date=August 17, 2013 |website=NFL.com |access-date=August 18, 2013}}</ref> He re-signed with the Lions on April 14, 2014.<ref>{{cite web|last=Gantt|first=Darin|title=Lions bring back Rashean Mathis for another year|date=14 April 2014|url=http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/04/14/lions-bring-back-rashean-mathis-for-another-year/|publisher=Pro Football Talk|access-date=14 April 2014}}</ref> On March 19, 2015, the Lions re-signed Mathis to a two-year, $3.5 million contract.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.detroitlions.com/news/lions-insider/article-1/REPORT-Lions-re-sign-cornerback-Rashean-Mathis/98c87e88-60ca-433f-839f-f540ff2a032a |title=Lions re-sign cornerback Rashean Mathis |last=Twentyman |first=Tim |website=NFL.com |date=March 18, 2015 |access-date=March 18, 2015 |archive-date=March 21, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150321003022/http://www.detroitlions.com/news/lions-insider/article-1/REPORT-Lions-re-sign-cornerback-Rashean-Mathis/98c87e88-60ca-433f-839f-f540ff2a032a |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.detroitlions.com/news/lions-insider/article-1/CB-Rashean-Mathis-grateful-to-be-back-for-year-13/067376db-38bf-4ecc-ba27-9bc108023454 |title=CB Rashean Mathis grateful to be back for year 13 |last=Twentyman |first=Tim |website=NFL.com |date=March 19, 2015 |access-date=March 19, 2015 |archive-date=March 21, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150321084340/http://www.detroitlions.com/news/lions-insider/article-1/CB-Rashean-Mathis-grateful-to-be-back-for-year-13/067376db-38bf-4ecc-ba27-9bc108023454 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

On February 16, 2016, Mathis announced his retirement.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/lions-cb-rashean-mathis-announces-retirement-0ap3000000636448 |title=Lions CB Rashean Mathis announces retirement |last=Patra |first=Kevin |website=NFL.com|date=February 16, 2016 |access-date=February 16, 2016}}</ref>

On April 13, 2016, Mathis signed a one-day contract to retire as a member of the [[Jacksonville Jaguars]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/400642/hays-carlyon/2016-04-13/rashean-mathis-touched-jaguars-honorary-retirement#|title=Rashean Mathis touched by Jaguars honorary retirement ceremony|work=The Florida Times-Union|date=April 13, 2016|access-date=July 27, 2016|first=Hays|last=Carlyon}}</ref>

{{external media
| video1 = [http://www.nfl.com/videos/jacksonville-jaguars/0ap3000000719516/Classic-Jags-Rashean-Mathis Classic Jags: Rashean Mathis]
}}

===Jaguars franchise records===
* Most career interceptions: 30 <ref name=PFR.com>{{cite web |title=Jacksonville Jaguars Defense Career Register |publisher=pro-football-reference.com |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/jax/career-defense.htm |access-date=22 September 2012 }}</ref>
* Most career interception return yards: 512 <ref name=PFR.com />
* Most career passes defended: 104 <ref name="PFR.com" />

===NFL statistics===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! Year !! Team !! GP !! COMB !! TOTAL !! AST !! SACK !! FF !! FR !! FR YDS !! INT !! IR YDS !! AVG IR !! LNG !! TD !! PD
|-
| [[2003 NFL season|2003]] || [[2003 Jacksonville Jaguars season|JAX]] || 16 || 81 || 71 || 10 || 0.0 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 2 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 7
|-
| [[2004 NFL season|2004]] || [[2004 Jacksonville Jaguars season|JAX]] || 16 || 63 || 53 || 10 || 0.0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 5 || 42 || 8 || 21 || 0 || 16
|-
| [[2005 NFL season|2005]] || [[2005 Jacksonville Jaguars season|JAX]] || 16 || 69 || 60 || 9 || 0.0 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 5 || 79 || 16 || 41 || 1 || 11
|-
| [[2006 NFL season|2006]] || [[2006 Jacksonville Jaguars season|JAX]] || 16 || 63 || 56 || 7 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 8 || 146 || 18 || 55 || 0 || 12
|-
| [[2007 NFL season|2007]] || [[2007 Jacksonville Jaguars season|JAX]] || 14 || 58 || 53 || 5 || 0.0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 23 || 23 || 23 || 0 || 6
|-
| [[2008 NFL season|2008]] || [[2008 Jacksonville Jaguars season|JAX]] || 12 || 40 || 39 || 1 || 1.0 || 1 || 1 || 0 || 4 || 151 || 38 || 72 || 2 || 9
|-
| [[2009 NFL season|2009]] || [[2009 Jacksonville Jaguars season|JAX]] || 10 || 33 || 29 || 4 || 0.0 || 2 || 1 || 0 || 3 || 46 || 15 || 29 || 0 || 7
|-
| [[2010 NFL season|2010]] || [[2010 Jacksonville Jaguars season|JAX]] || 16 || 57 || 46 || 11 || 0.0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 24 || 24 || 24 || 0 || 6
|-
| [[2011 NFL season|2011]] || [[2011 Jacksonville Jaguars season|JAX]] || 9 || 34 || 32 || 2 || 0.0 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 1 || 1 || 1 || 1 || 0 || 4
|-
| [[2012 NFL season|2012]] || [[2012 Jacksonville Jaguars season|JAX]] || 12 || 20 || 20 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 5
|-
| [[2013 NFL season|2013]] || [[2013 Detroit Lions season|DET]] || 15 || 47 || 44 || 3 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 15
|-
| [[2014 NFL season|2014]] || [[2014 Detroit Lions season|DET]] || 16 || 51 || 42 || 9 || 0.0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 41 || 41 || 41 || 1 || 9
|-
| [[2015 NFL season|2015]] || [[2015 Detroit Lions season|DET]] || 7 || 31 || 28 || 3 || 0.0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 4
|-
! colspan="2"| Career || 175 || 647 || 573 || 74 || 1.0 || 8 || 5 || 0 || 32 || 553 || 17 || 72 || 4 || 111
|}<ref name=ESPN>{{cite web|title=Rashean Mathis Stats|url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/stats/_/id/4497/rashean-mathis|publisher=ESPN Internet Ventures|access-date=25 March 2014}}</ref>

'''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==
In 2006, Mathis appeared as a celebrity contestant on [[Wheel of Fortune (U.S. game show)|Wheel of Fortune]] during ''NFL Players Week''.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/wheel-of-fortune-and-players-inc-score-big-with-tenth-annual-nfl-players-week-53720942.html| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160303234430/http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/wheel-of-fortune-and-players-inc-score-big-with-tenth-annual-nfl-players-week-53720942.html| archive-date = 2016-03-03| title = 'Wheel of Fortune' and PLAYERS INC Score Big With Tenth Annual... -- re> CULVER CITY, Calif., Jan. 23 /PRNewswire/ --}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
*[http://www.detroitlions.com/team/roster/Rashean-Mathis/108c247f-f4ca-4987-b766-3ef0b8eb2302 Detroit Lions bio] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140415145708/http://www.detroitlions.com/team/roster/Rashean-Mathis/108c247f-f4ca-4987-b766-3ef0b8eb2302 |date=April 15, 2014 }}
*{{commonscatinline}}

{{Buck Buchanan Award}}
{{Jaguars2003DraftPicks}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mathis, Rashean}}
[[Category:1980 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Engelwood High School (Florida) alumni]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Jacksonville, Florida]]
[[Category:American football cornerbacks]]
[[Category:American football safeties]]
[[Category:Bethune–Cookman Wildcats football players]]
[[Category:Jacksonville Jaguars players]]
[[Category:Detroit Lions players]]
[[Category:American Conference Pro Bowl players]]

Rashean Mathis - Revision history

imported>NintendoTTTEfan2005: /* Early life */