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| No. 31 | |
|---|---|
| Position: | Running back |
| Personal information | |
| Born: | (1938-12-10)December 10, 1938 Rocky Mount, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Died: | October 20, 2020(2020-10-20) (aged 81)[1] Marietta, Georgia, U.S. |
| Height: | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) |
| Weight: | 220 lb (100 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school: | Manchester (GA) |
| College: | Clemson |
| NFL draft: | 1960: 8th round, 88th pick |
| AFL draft: | 1960: 1 Pick: First Selections (by theDenver Broncos)th round |
| Career history | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
| Stats atPro Football Reference | |
Bill Mathis (December 10, 1938 – October 20, 2020) was an American professionalfootball player who was arunning back for theNew York Titans/Jets in theAmerican Football League (AFL).[2] He playedcollege football for theClemson Tigers. He also competed on theClemson Tigers track and field team.[3] He started his professional career with the Titans, and played his entire career with the AFL's New York franchise. One of four Titans who remained with the New York Jets to play in and win aSuper Bowl, Mathis led the AFL in carries in1961 and was selected by his peers to theSporting News1961 AFL All-League team. He was anAFL Eastern Division All-Star in 1961 and 1963. Mathis had a collarbone broken in the third game of 1961, against theBoston Patriots. He played in the next game, and in fact in all the remaining games of the season.
That persistence allowed him to gain a roster spot year after year, and end his career in 1969 after winningSuper Bowl III. He is one of twenty players who were in the AFL for its entire ten-year existence, and seven players who played their entire AFL careers for one franchise. He was inducted into theClemson University Hall of Fame,South Carolina Hall of Fame, and theGeorgia Hall of Fame.
After retiring from football, Mathis began a career onWall Street, starting at the firmCogan, Berlind, Weill & Levitt.[4]