Terance Mathis

Falcons legend, record-setting receiver, and coach.

Terance Paul Mathis (born June 7, 1967) is an American college football coach and former player. He was most recently 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.

Quick Facts

Born

7 June 1967

Birthplace

Detroit, Michigan, U.S.

Draft year

1990

Draft round

Draft pick

140

High school

Redan (Redan, Georgia)

College

New Mexico

Teams

New York Jets (1990–1993)
Atlanta Falcons (1994–2001)
Pittsburgh Steelers (2002)

Lore & Background

Mathis played college football for the New Mexico Lobos, earning consensus All-American honors in 1989. He became New Mexico's first consensus All-American after setting a 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. He is second in career two-point conversions with six, behind Marshall Faulk's seven.

Reader's Guide

Mathis attended Redan High School in Stone Mountain, GA, and the University of New Mexico, where he played both football and basketball. He was drafted by the New York Jets in the sixth round of the 1990 NFL Draft. He played with the Jets until 1994, then signed as an unrestricted free agent with the Atlanta Falcons. In 1994, he set a club record by catching 111 passes, becoming the eighth player in NFL history to exceed the 100-catch mark in one season.

He played on the NFC Pro Bowl squad that season. He made his first post-season appearance for the Falcons in 1998 and made a three-yard touchdown catch in Super Bowl XXXIII. He passed Andre Rison as the club's all-time reception leader in 1999 and later passed Rison on the team's all-time touchdown list. After being released by the Falcons, he signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers, then retired after the 2002 season. He is third in Falcons history in touchdown receptions (57) and third in receiving yards (7,349).

Did You Know?

Mathis was selected as the Atlanta Falcons' 'Man of the Year' in 1998.
In 1996, he founded the 'Terance Loves Children' foundation, now known as the Terance Mathis Foundation.
In June 2005, Mathis announced the formation of his own NASCAR team, Victory Motorsports.
On February 1, 2011, Mathis was named offensive coordinator at Savannah State University.
On May 3, 2017, Mathis was named head coach at Pinecrest Academy football team in Cumming, Georgia.