Jordan Matthews facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Jordan Matthews

Matthews playing for Vanderbilt in 2013
No. 81 – Carolina Panthers
Position:	Tight end
Personal information
Born:	(1992-07-16) July 16, 1992 (age 32) Madison, Alabama, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:	236 lb (107 kg)
Career information
High school:	Madison (AL) Academy
College:	Vanderbilt (2010–2013)
NFL Draft:	2014 / Round: 2 / Pick: 42
Career history
Philadelphia Eagles (2014–2016) Buffalo Bills (2017) New England Patriots (2018)* Philadelphia Eagles (2018) San Francisco 49ers (2019) Philadelphia Eagles (2019) San Francisco 49ers (2019–2022) Carolina Panthers (2023–present)
Roster status:	Active
Career highlights and awards
First-team All-American (2013) 2× First-team All-SEC (2012, 2013)
Career NFL statistics as of Week 4, 2024
Receptions: 274 Receiving yards: 3,288 Receiving touchdowns: 22
Player stats at PFR

Jordan Armand Matthews (born July 16, 1992) is an American professional football player. He plays as a tight end for the Carolina Panthers in the National Football League (NFL). Matthews played college football at Vanderbilt University. The Philadelphia Eagles picked him in the second round of the 2014 NFL draft. Matthews started his NFL career as a wide receiver. He later changed his position to tight end after the 2020 season.

Early Life and High School Football

Jordan Matthews was born on July 16, 1992, in Madison, Alabama. He went to Madison Academy. There, he played both football and basketball. In his senior year, Matthews helped his high school football team achieve a great 12–1 record. During his time at Madison Academy, he caught 181 passes for 3,218 yards. He also scored 38 touchdowns.

Matthews was considered a "three-star recruit" by college scouts. This means he was a good player, but not among the very top ones. He first planned to join Auburn University without a scholarship. However, Vanderbilt University offered him a scholarship on Christmas Eve in 2009. This happened after another player changed his mind about going to Vanderbilt. Matthews received scholarship offers from only a few schools. He decided to commit to Vanderbilt on December 26, 2009.

College Football Career

As a freshman at Vanderbilt in 2010, Matthews caught 15 passes for 181 yards. He scored four touchdowns. In 2011, his sophomore year, he improved with 41 catches for 778 yards and five touchdowns.

In 2012, his junior year, Matthews was named a first-team All-Southeastern Conference (SEC) player. He also received third-team All-American honors. He finished that season with 94 receptions for 1,323 yards and eight touchdowns.

Matthews had an amazing senior year in 2013. He was again named a first-team All-SEC player. Many sports groups, like USA Today and the Associated Press, also named him a first-team All-American. During this season, he broke the all-time SEC records for career receptions and career receiving yards. He also won the 2013 CFPA Elite Wide Receiver Trophy. In his last college game, he was the MVP of the 2014 BBVA Compass Bowl. He caught five passes for 143 yards and two touchdowns in that game. He ended the 2013 season with 112 receptions for 1,477 yards and seven touchdowns. His 112 catches set a new SEC record for most receptions in a single season.

Overall, during his college career, Matthews had 262 receptions for 3,759 yards. Both of these numbers are records for both the SEC and Vanderbilt. His 24 career touchdowns are also the most in Vanderbilt's history. Matthews earned a degree in economics from Vanderbilt.

Professional Football Career

Philadelphia Eagles (First Time)

The Philadelphia Eagles picked Jordan Matthews in the second round of the 2014 NFL draft. He was the 42nd player chosen overall. The Eagles even traded up to get him. On May 27, 2014, he signed a four-year contract with the team. He scored his first two career touchdowns in a game against the Washington Redskins in Week 3. In a Monday Night Football game in Week 10, he caught 7 passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns against the Carolina Panthers. He finished his first season with 67 catches for 872 yards and eight touchdowns.

In his second NFL year (2015), Matthews started strong against the Atlanta Falcons. He had 10 catches for 102 yards. Later, against the Dallas Cowboys, he had nine catches for 133 yards and one touchdown. In a game against the Arizona Cardinals, he caught eight passes for 159 yards and one touchdown. In the last game of the season against the New York Giants, he scored two touchdowns. For the 2015 season, he had 85 receptions for 997 yards and eight touchdowns.

In 2016, with new quarterback Carson Wentz, Matthews started his third year well. He had seven catches for 114 yards and one touchdown against the Cleveland Browns. This was his best game of the season for yardage. He finished the season with 73 receptions for 804 yards and three touchdowns.

Buffalo Bills

On August 11, 2017, the Eagles traded Matthews to the Buffalo Bills. They also sent a 2018 draft pick to the Bills. In return, the Eagles received cornerback Ronald Darby.

Matthews played his first game for the Bills on September 10. He had two catches for 61 yards in a win over the New York Jets. He caught his first touchdown with the Bills in a surprise win against the NFC champion Falcons. However, he broke his right thumb in that game. He was expected to be out for a month but returned three weeks later. He was later placed on injured reserve in December 2017 due to a knee injury. He finished the 2017 season with 25 catches for 282 yards and one touchdown.

New England Patriots

On April 5, 2018, Matthews signed a one-year contract with the New England Patriots. But on August 1, 2018, the Patriots released him. This happened after he hurt his hamstring during training camp.

Philadelphia Eagles (Second Time)

The Eagles re-signed Matthews on September 19, 2018. They needed help because many of their receivers were injured. In Week 4, he scored a 56-yard receiving touchdown against the Tennessee Titans. This was his first touchdown since returning to Philadelphia. Matthews ended the season with 20 catches for 300 yards and 2 touchdowns. He also had one catch for 37 yards and a touchdown in two playoff games.

San Francisco 49ers (First Time)

On March 14, 2019, Matthews signed a one-year contract with the San Francisco 49ers. However, the 49ers released him on August 31, 2019, before the season started. They re-signed him on October 3, 2019, but released him again on October 26.

Philadelphia Eagles (Third Time)

Matthews re-signed with the Eagles on November 11, 2019. He was waived (released) again on November 25, 2019.

San Francisco 49ers (Second Time)

On December 11, 2019, the 49ers signed Matthews again. Even though he didn't play in their playoff games, the team reached Super Bowl LIV. They lost to the Kansas City Chiefs 31–20.

On November 27, 2020, Matthews joined the 49ers' practice squad. He was released and re-signed to the practice squad a few times. He was moved to the active roster for two games in December and January 2021. After the season, his practice squad contract ended.

After the 2020 season, Matthews announced a big change. He switched his playing position from wide receiver to tight end. To do this, he gained 30 pounds as part of his new training. He re-signed with the 49ers on July 31, 2021. He was released and re-signed to the practice squad again. On August 4, 2022, the 49ers placed him on injured reserve for the whole season. This was because he tore a ligament in his knee (ACL) during practice.

Carolina Panthers

On October 25, 2023, Matthews joined the Carolina Panthers practice squad. He was signed to the active roster on November 7, 2023. He was released on November 13 and then re-signed to the practice squad. He signed a new contract with the Panthers on January 8, 2024.

On August 27, 2024, the Panthers released Matthews. He was re-signed to the practice squad the next day. Then, he was promoted back to the active roster. He was released again on September 17 and re-signed to the practice squad. He was promoted back to the active roster on November 2. Matthews was released and re-signed to the practice squad on November 15. He signed another contract on January 6, 2025.

NFL Career Statistics

This table shows Jordan Matthews' performance in the NFL regular season.

Regular Season

Personal Life and Charity Work

Jordan Matthews is married to Cheyna Williams. She is a soccer player for the Chicago Red Stars. She also went to Vanderbilt University, like Jordan. They have two sons together. Matthews is a Christian.

Jordan's parents are Brenda and Rod Matthews. He has one brother named Justin. Jordan Matthews is also related to Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice. Jerry Rice's cousin is Jordan's mother.

Matthews is a member of the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity.

On July 7, 2018, Matthews held his second Vanderbilt Legends Charity Softball Game. This event took place at Vanderbilt's Hawkins Field. The money raised from the event helped two organizations: YWCA and AMEND Together. These groups work to stop domestic violence. The event included a home run derby and a softball game. Former Vanderbilt athletes played in the game. This event is part of Matthews' foundation, called Matthews Mission.