American football player and coach (born 1981)
American football player
Robert Mathis
![refer to caption](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1e/Robert_Mathis_2016.JPG/220px-Robert_Mathis_2016.JPG) Mathis with the Colts in 2016
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Position:
| Pass rush consultant
Player development
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Born:
| (
1981-02-26
)
February 26, 1981
(age 43)
Atlanta, Georgia
, U.S.
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Height:
| 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
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Weight:
| 245 lb (111 kg)
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High school:
| McNair
(Atlanta)
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College:
| Alabama A&M
(1999?2002)
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NFL draft:
| 2003
/ Round: 5 / Pick: 138
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- Indianapolis Colts (
2017
?present)
Pass rush consultant & player development
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- NFL records
- Most career forced fumbles: 54
- Most forced fumbles in a season: 10 (2013; tied)
[a]
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Player stats at
PFR
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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
[
edit
]
Mathis was born in
Atlanta, Georgia
. He attended
McNair High School
in Atlanta. He was classmates with
Gucci Mane
.
[3]
College career
[
edit
]
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
[
edit
]
2003?2005
[
edit
]
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
[
edit
]
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]
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
.
[11]
On January 23, 2012, Mathis decided not to play in Pro Bowl.
[12]
Mathis recorded 33 tackles, 8 sacks, and 1 forced fumble in 12 games during the 2012 season.
[7]
2012?2016
[
edit
]
On March 5, 2012, Mathis signed a one-year tender worth $10.6 million.
[13]
He then signed a four-year $36 million contract on the same day.
[13]
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.
[14]
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.
[15]
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
.
[16]
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.
[17]
Mathis would lead the NFL in sacks with 19.5, a half sack more than
Robert Quinn
of the
St. Louis Rams
.
[18]
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.
[19]
He finished second in the
Defensive Player of the Year
voting behind
Luke Kuechly
of the
Carolina Panthers
.
[20]
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.
[21]
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
.
[22]
The Colts signed Mathis to a one-year extension on September 30, 2014.
[23]
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.
[24]
On December 30, 2016, Mathis announced that he would retire following the Colts Week 17 game against the
Jacksonville Jaguars
.
[25]
[26]
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.
[27]
NFL career statistics
[
edit
]
Legend
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Won the
Super Bowl
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NFL record
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Led the league
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Bold
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Career high
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Regular season
[
edit
]
Year
|
Team
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Games
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Tackles
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Interceptions
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Fumbles
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GP
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GS
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Cmb
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Solo
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Ast
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Sck
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PD
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Int
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Yds
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Avg
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Lng
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TD
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FF
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FR
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Yds
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TD
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2003
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IND
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16
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0
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25
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21
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4
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3.5
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2
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0
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0
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0.0
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0
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0
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3
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1
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0
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0
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2004
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IND
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16
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1
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36
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32
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4
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10.5
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0
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0
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0
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0.0
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0
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0
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6
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3
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26
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0
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2005
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IND
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13
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0
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56
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45
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11
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11.5
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2
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0
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0
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0.0
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0
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0
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8
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0
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0
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0
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2006
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IND
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16
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16
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65
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50
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15
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9.5
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4
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0
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0
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0.0
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0
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0
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4
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2
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0
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0
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2007
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IND
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13
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12
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37
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31
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6
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7.0
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0
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0
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0
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0.0
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0
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0
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4
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1
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0
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0
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2008
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IND
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15
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2
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47
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36
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11
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11.5
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3
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0
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0
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0.0
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0
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0
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5
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3
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37
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1
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2009
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IND
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14
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9
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37
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24
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13
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9.5
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2
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0
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0
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0.0
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0
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0
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5
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0
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0
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0
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2010
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IND
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16
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16
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60
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44
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16
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11.0
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1
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0
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0
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0.0
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0
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0
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1
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1
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1
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0
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2011
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IND
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16
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15
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43
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29
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14
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9.5
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1
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0
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0
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0.0
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0
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0
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3
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3
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0
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0
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2012
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IND
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12
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12
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33
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22
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11
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8.0
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1
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1
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1
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1.0
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1
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0
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1
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0
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0
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0
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2013
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IND
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16
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16
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59
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44
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15
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19.5
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1
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0
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0
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0.0
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0
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0
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10
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0
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0
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0
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2014
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IND
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0
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0
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did not play due to injury
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2015
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IND
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15
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10
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20
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15
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5
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7.0
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0
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0
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0
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0.0
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0
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0
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1
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1
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0
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1
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2016
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IND
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14
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12
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20
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15
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5
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5.0
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0
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0
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0
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0.0
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0
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0
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3
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2
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14
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1
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Career
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192
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121
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538
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408
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130
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123.0
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18
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1
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1
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1.0
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1
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0
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54
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17
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78
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3
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Postseason
[
edit
]
Year
|
Team
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Games
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Tackles
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Interceptions
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Fumbles
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GP
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GS
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Cmb
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Solo
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Ast
|
Sck
|
PD
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Int
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Yds
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Avg
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Lng
|
TD
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FF
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FR
|
Yds
|
TD
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2003
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IND
|
3
|
0
|
5
|
4
|
1
|
?
|
1
|
?
|
?
|
?
|
?
|
?
|
?
|
?
|
?
|
?
|
2004
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IND
|
1
|
0
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4
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3
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1
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?
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?
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?
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?
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?
|
?
|
?
|
?
|
?
|
?
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?
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2005
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IND
|
1
|
0
|
2
|
2
|
0
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?
|
1
|
?
|
?
|
?
|
?
|
?
|
?
|
?
|
?
|
?
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2006
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IND
|
4
|
4
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20
|
14
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6
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1.5
|
?
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?
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?
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?
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?
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?
|
3
|
1
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0
|
0
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2007
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IND
|
1
|
0
|
?
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?
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?
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?
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?
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?
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?
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?
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?
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?
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?
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?
|
?
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?
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2008
|
IND
|
1
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0
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4
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3
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1
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2.0
|
?
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?
|
?
|
?
|
?
|
?
|
?
|
?
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?
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?
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2009
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IND
|
3
|
3
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8
|
5
|
3
|
?
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?
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?
|
?
|
?
|
?
|
?
|
?
|
?
|
?
|
?
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2010
|
IND
|
1
|
1
|
2
|
2
|
0
|
?
|
?
|
?
|
?
|
?
|
?
|
?
|
?
|
?
|
?
|
?
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2012
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IND
|
1
|
1
|
5
|
3
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2
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1.0
|
?
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?
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?
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?
|
?
|
?
|
?
|
?
|
?
|
?
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2013
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IND
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2
|
2
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5
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3
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2
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2.0
|
?
|
?
|
?
|
?
|
?
|
?
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
2014
|
IND
|
0
|
0
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did not play due to injury
|
Career
|
18
|
11
|
55
|
39
|
16
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6.5
|
2
|
?
|
?
|
?
|
?
|
?
|
5
|
1
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0
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0
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Personal life
[
edit
]
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
.
[28]
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.
Notes
[
edit
]
References
[
edit
]
- ^
a
b
Alper, Josh (January 2, 2014).
"Robert Mathis wins inaugural Deacon Jones Award"
.
profootballtalk.nbcsports.com
. Retrieved
January 2,
2014
.
- ^
"Mathis Pro Football Reference Profile"
.
pro-football-reference.com
.
- ^
Kelley, Craig (May 10, 2013).
"Robert Mathis Honors Mother"
.
colts.com
. Retrieved
July 2,
2015
.
- ^
Rank, Adam (February 10, 2014).
"NFL players from historically black colleges"
.
National Football League
. Retrieved
February 27,
2014
.
- ^
"Robert Mathis: The Official Website of the Indianapolis Colts"
. Colts.com. Archived from
the original
on April 11, 2008.
- ^
"2003 NFL Draft Listing"
.
Pro-Football-Reference.com
. Retrieved
March 28,
2023
.
- ^
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
.
- ^
"Mathis signs 5 year, $30 dollar extension with Colts"
. Colts.com.
- ^
Rosenthal, Gregg (December 3, 2009).
"AFC defensive player of the month should get Robert Mathis a cash prize"
.
nbcsports.com
. Retrieved
October 31,
2013
.
- ^
Rosenthal, Gregg (September 30, 2010).
"Robert Mathis pockets AFC defensive player of the month award"
.
nbcsports.com
. Retrieved
October 31,
2013
.
- ^
"Colts DE Robert Mathis added to Pro Bowl roster"
.
indystar.com
. Retrieved
January 3,
2012
.
- ^
"Colts defensive end Robert Mathis won't play in Sunday's Pro Bowl in Honolulu"
.
indystar.com
. Retrieved
January 23,
2012
.
- ^
a
b
"Robert Mathis"
.
- ^
"Recap: Detroit vs. Indianapolis"
.
usatoday.com
. December 2, 2012
. Retrieved
October 31,
2013
.
- ^
"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
.
- ^
Chappell, Mike (November 24, 2013).
"Colts flaws vividly exposed in 40-11 loss"
.
indystar.com
. Retrieved
December 2,
2013
.
- ^
Bowen, Kevin (December 15, 2013).
"Robert Mathis Breaks Franchise Sack Record"
.
colts.com
. Retrieved
December 15,
2013
.
- ^
Kelley, Craig (December 29, 2013).
"Robert Mathis, NFL Sack Champion"
.
colts.com
. Retrieved
December 30,
2013
.
- ^
Alper, Josh (January 2, 2014).
"Robert Mathis caps stellar season with AFC defensive player of the month"
.
profootballtalk.nbcsports.com
. Retrieved
December 2,
2014
.
- ^
"Panthers' Luke Kuechly is Defensive Player of the Year"
.
NFL.com
. Retrieved
March 23,
2017
.
- ^
Rosenthal, Greg (May 16, 2014).
"Colts' Robert Mathis suspended four games for PEDs"
.
NFL.com
. Retrieved
May 16,
2014
.
- ^
Chappell, Mike (September 8, 2014).
"Colts LB Robert Mathis tears Achilles, out for the season"
. Indianapolis Star
. Retrieved
September 8,
2014
.
- ^
"Colts sign Mathis to extension through 2016"
.
Sportsnet
. September 30, 2014
. Retrieved
September 30,
2014
.
- ^
Sports, IndyStar.
"Colts' Robert Mathis named AFC Defensive Player of the Week"
.
The Indianapolis Star
.
- ^
Keefer, Zak (December 30, 2016).
"Colts Robert Mathis announces retirement"
.
indystar.com
. Retrieved
December 30,
2016
.
- ^
"Colts' Robert Mathis: Sunday will be my final game"
.
NFL.com
. December 30, 2016. Archived from
the original
on December 31, 2016.
- ^
"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
.
- ^
Lindquist, David (November 19, 2013).
"Watch preview of Colts-themed "Parks and Rec" episode"
.
indystar.com
. Retrieved
March 27,
2015
.
External links
[
edit
]
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†
Note
: The Colts removed the 12th Man reference in 2016.
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Sack totals from 1960 to 1981 are considered unofficial by the NFL. Starting in 2013, the sack leader is officially given the Deacon Jones Award
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Italics
denotes active player
|