Derrick Mason facts for kids
Mason with the Baltimore Ravens in 2010
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| Position: | Wide receiver | ||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||
| Born: | January 17, 1974 Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
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| Height: | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | ||||||||||
| Weight: | 197 lb (89 kg) | ||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||
| High school: | Mumford (Detroit, Michigan) | ||||||||||
| College: | Michigan State (1993–1996) | ||||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1997 / Round: 4 / Pick: 98 | ||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||||
Derrick James Mason (born January 17, 1974) is a former American football player. He was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) for fifteen seasons. He played college football for the Michigan State Spartans. The Tennessee Oilers picked him in the 1997 NFL draft. This team later became the Titans.
After eight seasons with Tennessee, Mason joined the Baltimore Ravens. He became the Ravens' top receiver with 5,777 yards from 2005 to 2010. He played for the New York Jets and Houston Texans in 2011. Mason officially retired as a Raven on June 11, 2012.
Mason was chosen for the Pro Bowl twice (in 2000 and 2003). He was also a First Team All-Pro in 2000. He is the only NFL player to have at least 10,000 receiving yards and 5,000 return yards. He once held the record for most all-purpose yards in a single season.
Contents
Early Life and College Football
Growing Up in Detroit
Derrick Mason went to Mumford High School in Detroit, Michigan. He set new school records there. He had 70 catches and 1,243 receiving yards.
Playing for Michigan State
Mason played college football at Michigan State. During his four years, he set a team record. He gained 2,384 yards from kick returns. He also caught eight touchdowns. In 1995 and 1996, he played under coach Nick Saban. He caught 106 passes for 1,652 yards and 6 touchdowns.
Derrick Mason's NFL Career
Starting with the Tennessee Titans
Mason began his NFL journey with the Oilers/Titans. He was drafted in the fourth round in 1997. In his first year, he played in 16 games. He had 14 catches for 186 yards. His first NFL game was against the Oakland Raiders on August 31, 1997.
The next season, he played all 16 games again. He had 25 catches for 333 yards and three touchdowns. His first touchdown was against the Chicago Bears on October 25, 1998. He also returned 31 punts for 228 yards.
In the 1999 season, Mason gained 1,030 yards returning punts and kickoffs. He helped the Titans reach Super Bowl XXXIV. In that Super Bowl, he returned 5 kickoffs for 122 yards. He also caught 2 passes for 18 yards, but the Titans lost 23–16. He even returned a kickoff 80 yards for a touchdown in a playoff game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Record-Breaking Season in 2000
In the 2000 season, Mason led the NFL in punt return yards with 662. He also caught 63 passes for 895 yards. He returned 41 kickoffs for 1,132 yards, averaging 27 yards per return. This gave him 2,690 combined yards from receiving and special teams. This broke the NFL record for all-purpose yards in a single season. He earned his first trip to the Pro Bowl that year.
In 2001, he started 15 games and scored a career-high 9 touchdowns. He again went over 2,000 all-purpose yards. The next season, he led the Titans in catches, receiving yards, and touchdowns. In 2003, he started all 16 games. He finished with 1,303 receiving yards and 95 receptions. In 2004, he again started all 16 games. He was second in the NFL with 96 receptions for 1,168 yards and seven touchdowns.
Joining the Baltimore Ravens
Mason signed with the Baltimore Ravens on March 7, 2005. In his first year, he started all 16 games. He set a Ravens record with 86 receptions. In 2006, he had 68 catches for 750 yards and two touchdowns. He caught the pass that gave Steve McNair 30,000 career passing yards.
In 2007, Mason had 103 receptions for 1,087 yards and five touchdowns. He became the first Ravens player to have 100 catches in a season. In 2008, he had 80 catches for 1,037 yards and 5 touchdowns. He was the main target for rookie quarterback Joe Flacco. Mason played through some shoulder injuries but still performed well. He led the team in playoff catches and yards that year.
The 2009 season was another strong one for Mason. He had 73 catches for 1,028 yards and seven touchdowns. On November 21, 2010, Mason caught his 900th reception. This made him the 13th receiver in NFL history to do so. He finished the 2010 season with 61 catches for 802 yards and seven scores. The Ravens released Mason on July 28, 2011.
Short Stays with Other Teams
Mason signed with the New York Jets on August 6, 2011. His playing time was limited. He was traded to the Houston Texans on October 11, 2011. He caught only six passes for 55 yards with the Texans. He was released on December 12, 2011.
Retirement from Football
Derrick Mason announced his retirement from professional football. He signed a special one-day contract with the Baltimore Ravens on June 11, 2012. This allowed him to retire as a Raven.
Career Achievements and Records
- AFC Champion (1999)
- 2× Pro Bowl selection (2000, 2003)
- All-Pro selection (2000)
- NFL punt return yards leader (2000)
- NFL All-purpose yards leader (2000)
- 3× AFC Special Teams Player of the Week
- Member of the 10,000 Receiving Yards Club
- Member of the 15,000 All-Purpose Yards Club
NFL Records Held by Mason
- Most all-purpose yards in a single season (2000): 2,690 (This record was broken in 2011 by Darren Sproles).
- Most kickoff return yards in a single postseason (1999): 437.
- Most combined kickoff and punt return yards in a single postseason (1999): 515.
- He is the only player with 10,000 receiving yards and 5,000 return yards.
Team Records
Mason holds many records for the Oilers/Titans and the Ravens.
- Oilers/Titans Records: Most career combined kickoff and punt return yards (5,086), most punt returns in a season (51 in 2000), and most all-purpose yards in a season (2,690 in 2000).
- Ravens Records: Most career receiving yards (5,777), most career receptions (471), and most receptions in a single season (103 in 2007).
Life After Football
Derrick Mason is married to Marci. They have a daughter, Bailee My-Lin, and a son, Derrick James II. Marci helps run "The Derrick Mason Foundation."
In 2012, Mason became a wide receivers coach at Ensworth High School in Nashville, Tennessee. He worked alongside his former teammate, Lemanski Hall. Mason is now an afternoon radio host for 102.5 The Game, a sports station in Nashville. He also has a part ownership in a Nashville company called SWIFTWICK.
