Early years

Mathis was born in Atlanta, Georgia. He attended McNair High School in Atlanta.

College career

Mathis enrolled in at Alabama A&M University, where he was a four-year starter for the Alabama A&M Bulldogs football team. 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. 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.

Professional career

Indianapolis Colts

2003-2005

Mathis was selected by the Indianapolis Colts with the 138th selection in the 2003 NFL Draft.

Mathis immediately stepped in during his rookie season as a pass rush specialist, seeing action in all 16 regular season games and recording 20 tackles, 3.5 sacks and 3 forced fumbles. 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. 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.

2006-2011

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. 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. 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.

In 2008, Mathis had his best statistical season to date, posting 48 tackles, 11.5 sacks and 5 forced fumbles. He was also voted to the 2009 Pro Bowl for the AFC behind then-teammate and perennial Pro-Bowler Dwight Freeney.

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. He would win his second such award for his defensive performance in September 2010, and would finish 2010 with 60 tackles, 11 sacks, and 1 forced fumble.

Mathis recorded 9.5 sacks during the 2011 regular season, along with 43 tackles and 3 forced fumbles. 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. On January 23, 2012 Mathis decided not to play in Pro Bowl. Mathis recorded 33 tackles, 8 sacks, and 1 forced fumble in 12 games during the 2012 season.

2012-present: Pagano era and Defensive Player of the Year

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.

In week 5 of the 2013 season against the Seattle Seahawks, Mathis recorded the 100th sack of his career, becoming the 30th player in league history to do so. He was named the AFC Defensive Player of the Month for October, the third time he has won the award.

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.

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.

Mathis would lead the NFL in sacks with 19.5, a half sack more than Robert Quinn of the St. Louis Rams. He was awarded the inaugural Deacon Jones award for leading the NFL in sacks, and also won his second AFC Defensive Player of the Month award of the 2013 season for his performance in December.

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 substance abuse policy was due to taking unapproved fertility drugs to conceive a child.

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. The Colts signed Mathis to a one-year extension on September 30, 2014.

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.

Career statistics

Regular season

Season	Team	Games		Tackles						Interceptions					Fumbles
		GP	GS	Comb	Total	Ast	Sck	SFTY	PDef	Int	Yds	Avg	Lng	TDs	FF	FR	Yds	TDs
2003	Indianapolis Colts	16	0	20	17	3	3.5	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	3	1	0	0
2004	Indianapolis Colts	16	1	36	32	4	10.5	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	6	3	26	0
2005	Indianapolis Colts	13	0	54	43	11	11.5	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	8	0	0	0
2006	Indianapolis Colts	16	16	65	50	15	9.5	-	3	-	-	-	-	-	4	2	0	0
2007	Indianapolis Colts	13	12	32	26	6	7.0	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	4	1	0	0
2008	Indianapolis Colts	15	2	48	36	12	11.5	-	3	-	-	-	-	-	5	3	37	1
2009	Indianapolis Colts	14	9	37	24	13	9.5	-	2	-	-	-	-	-	5	0	0	0
2010	Indianapolis Colts	16	16	60	44	16	11.0	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	1	1	1	0
2011	Indianapolis Colts	16	15	43	29	14	9.5	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	3	3	0	0
2012	Indianapolis Colts	12	12	33	22	11	8.0	-	2	1	1	1.0	1	0	1	0	0	0
2013	Indianapolis Colts	16	16	59	43	16	19.5†	1	1	-	-	-	-	-	8	0	0	0
2014	Indianapolis Colts	Did not play due to injury
2015	Indianapolis Colts	15	15	20	15	5	7.0	-	0	-	-	-	-	-	0	0	0	0
	Total	178	114	507	381	126	118.0	1	15	1	1	1	1	0	48	14	64	1

^† League Leader

Postseason

Season	Team	Games		Tackles						Interceptions					Fumbles
		GP	GS	Comb	Total	Ast	Sck	SFTY	PDef	Int	Yds	Avg	Lng	TDs	FF	FR	Yds	TDs
2003	Indianapolis Colts	3	0	5	4	1	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
2004	Indianapolis Colts	1	0	4	3	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
2005	Indianapolis Colts	1	0	2	2	0	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
2006	Indianapolis Colts	4	4	20	14	6	1.5	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	3	1	0	0
2007	Indianapolis Colts	1	0	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
2008	Indianapolis Colts	1	0	4	3	1	2.0	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
2009	Indianapolis Colts	3	3	8	5	3	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
2010	Indianapolis Colts	1	1	2	2	0	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
2012	Indianapolis Colts	1	1	5	3	2	1.0	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
2013	Indianapolis Colts	2	2	5	3	2	2.0	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	2	0	0	0
2014	Indianapolis Colts	Did not play due to injury
	Total	18	11	55	39	16	6.5	-	2	-	-	-	-	-	5	1	0	0

In popular culture

Mathis appeared in an episode of the comedy television series "Parks and Recreation" as himself, alongside teammates Andrew Luck and Reggie Wayne, in the sixth season.

[ Source: Wikipedia ]