Derrick Mason facts for kids
Mason with the 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 an American former professional football player. He played as a wide receiver for 15 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He was chosen by the Tennessee Oilers in the fourth round of the 1997 NFL draft. Before that, he played college football for the Michigan State Spartans.
After playing eight seasons with the Oilers (who later became the Titans), Mason joined the Baltimore Ravens in 2005. He became the Ravens' all-time leading receiver with 5,777 yards. He also played for the New York Jets and Houston Texans in 2011. Mason officially retired as a Baltimore Raven on June 11, 2012. He was the last active NFL player who had played for the Oilers.
Contents
Early Life and College Football
High School Years
Derrick Mason grew up in Detroit, Michigan. He went to Mumford High School. While playing football there, he set new school records. He had 70 catches and gained 1,243 receiving yards.
Playing for Michigan State
Mason played college football at Michigan State University. During his four years there, he set a team record. He gained 2,384 yards from kick returns. He also caught eight touchdowns for his team.
Professional Football Career
Starting with the Tennessee Titans
Derrick Mason began his NFL journey with the Oilers/Titans. He was picked in the fourth round of the 1997 NFL draft. In his first year, he played in all 16 games. He caught 14 passes for 186 yards.
In 1999, Mason helped the Titans reach Super Bowl XXXIV. He gained 1,030 yards from returning punts and kickoffs that season. In the playoffs, he returned a kickoff 80 yards for a touchdown. This helped the Titans win a big game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
In the 2000 season, Mason was amazing. He led the NFL in punt return yards with 662. He also caught 63 passes for 895 yards. Plus, he returned 41 kickoffs for 1,132 yards. This gave him a total of 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.
Mason continued to play well for the Titans. In 2001, he scored a career-high 9 touchdowns. In 2003, he had 95 catches for 1,303 yards. He was one of the top receivers in the NFL.
Joining the Baltimore Ravens
Mason signed with the Baltimore Ravens in 2005. In his first year, he set a new Ravens record. He had 86 catches in one season. In 2007, he made history again. He became the first Ravens player to have 100 catches in a single season. He finished that year with 103 catches for 1,087 yards.
In 2008, Mason was a key player for the Ravens. He had 80 catches for 1,037 yards. He was the main target for the team's new quarterback, Joe Flacco. Mason continued to play well in 2009. He had 73 catches for 1,028 yards and scored seven touchdowns.
On November 21, 2010, Mason reached a big milestone. He caught his 900th pass, becoming one of only 13 receivers in NFL history to do so. He left the Ravens in 2011.
Short Stays with Other Teams
Mason signed with the New York Jets in August 2011. His time there was short. He later joined the Houston Texans in October 2011. He played only seven games with the Texans before being released in December.
Retirement
Derrick Mason officially retired from professional football on June 11, 2012. He signed a special one-day contract with the Baltimore Ravens to retire as a Raven.
Career Achievements and Records
Awards and Highlights
- 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)
- Member of the 10,000 Receiving Yards Club
- Member of the 15,000 All-Purpose Yards Club
NFL Records
- Most all-purpose yards in a single season (2000): 2,690 yards (This record was later broken in 2011).
- Most kick return yards in a single postseason (1999): 437 yards.
- He is the only player in NFL history with over 10,000 receiving yards and over 5,000 return yards.
Tennessee Titans Franchise Records
Derrick Mason holds many records for the Titans, including:
- Most career combined kickoff and punt return yards (5,086).
- Most punt returns in a single season: 51 (2000).
- Most punt return yards in a single season: 662 (2000).
- Most all-purpose yards in a single season: 2,690 (2000).
- Most kick return yards in a playoff game: 174 (2000).
Baltimore Ravens Franchise Records
Mason also holds several records for the Ravens:
- Most career receiving yards (5,777).
- Most career receptions (471).
- Most receptions in a single season: 103 (2007).
- Most seasons with 1,000 receiving yards (4).
Life After Football
Derrick Mason is married to Marci, and they have two children, Bailee My-Lin and Derrick James II. Marci is involved with "The Derrick Mason Foundation."
In 2012, Mason became a wide receivers coach at Ensworth High School in Nashville, Tennessee. He also works as an afternoon radio host for a sports station in Nashville called 102.5 The Game. Mason also has a part-ownership in a company called SWIFTWICK.
