Rishard Matthews facts for kids
Matthews with the Miami Dolphins in 2014
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| Position: | Wide receiver | ||||||
| Personal information | |||||||
| Born: | October 12, 1989 Santa Ana, California, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | ||||||
| Weight: | 217 lb (98 kg) | ||||||
| Career information | |||||||
| High school: | Saddleback (Santa Ana, California) | ||||||
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| NFL Draft: | 2012 / Round: 7 / Pick: 227 | ||||||
| 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 | |||||||
Rishard Andre Matthews (born October 12, 1989) is a former American professional football player. He played as a wide receiver, which means he was responsible for catching passes from the quarterback. Rishard played college football for the University of Nevada. He was later chosen by the Miami Dolphins in the 2012 NFL draft. He also played for the Tennessee Titans and New York Jets during his career.
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Early Life and High School Sports
Rishard Matthews was born in Santa Ana, California, on October 12, 1989. He went to Saddleback High School. While there, he was a talented athlete in both basketball and football.
On the basketball team, he was a strong player. He averaged almost 10 points and 7 rebounds per game. He also helped his team with assists and steals. Besides basketball, he also played for the school's football team.
College Football Journey
After high school, Rishard first planned to go to the University of Oregon. However, he ended up attending Bakersfield College for two years. Later, he transferred to the University of Nevada, Reno.
At Nevada, Rishard played for two seasons. In his first year, he caught passes from future NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick. During his time at Nevada, he made 147 catches for a total of 2,243 yards. He also scored 13 touchdowns. His excellent performance earned him a spot on the second-team All-WAC (Western Athletic Conference) as a wide receiver.
Professional Football Career
Rishard Matthews began his professional football journey in 2012. He was drafted into the NFL, which is the top professional football league in the United States.
Playing for the Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins picked Rishard in the seventh round of the 2012 NFL draft. He was the 227th player chosen overall. He made his first catch in a game against the Buffalo Bills in November 2012. He finished his first season with 11 catches for 151 yards.
In 2013, Rishard was one of only four wide receivers to make the Dolphins' main roster. He had a great game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, catching 11 passes for 120 yards and scoring two touchdowns. He became a very reliable player, especially in a big win against the New England Patriots. He ended the 2013 season with 41 catches for 448 yards and two touchdowns.
The 2014 season was not as strong for Rishard. He finished with 12 catches for 135 yards and two touchdowns. In 2015, he had a career-long 53-yard touchdown catch against the Houston Texans. However, his season ended early when he got injured with fractured ribs. He finished 2015 with 43 catches for 662 yards and four touchdowns.
Time with the Tennessee Titans
In March 2016, Rishard signed a three-year contract with the Tennessee Titans. His first season with the Titans was his best. He set new personal records with 945 receiving yards and 9 receiving touchdowns. He led the Titans in both of these important categories.
In 2017, Rishard continued to make big plays. He scored a 55-yard touchdown against the Seattle Seahawks. He also had a very long 75-yard touchdown catch against the Pittsburgh Steelers. He finished that season with 53 catches for 795 yards and four touchdowns.
In 2018, Rishard asked to be released from the Titans because he wanted more playing time. The team agreed, and he left the Titans with a total of 121 catches, 1,751 receiving yards, and 13 touchdowns.
Short Stays with Other Teams
After leaving the Titans, Rishard signed with the New York Jets in October 2018. He played in five games for them, making two catches for 13 yards. He was later placed on injured reserve.
In June 2019, Rishard signed with the New Orleans Saints. However, he was released from the team in August 2019 after leaving their training camp.
Retirement from Football
On August 12, 2019, Rishard Matthews officially announced that he was retiring from the NFL. He ended his career with 230 receptions for 3,160 receiving yards and 21 receiving touchdowns.
Personal Life
Rishard Matthews comes from a family with a history of service. His father, Andre Matthews, and his half-brother, Christopher Ruiz, both served in the United States Marines.
