Countdown to Kickoff: Profile on Arizona Cardinals No. 69 Evan Mathis
By Jeremy Klump
The NFL Spin Zone ‘Countdown to Kickoff’ series continues with 69 days until kickoff, profiling Arizona Cardinals guard, No. 69 Evan Mathis.
Today is July 1st, 2016, which means there are exactly 69 days until the NFL season kicks off and that we are one month closer to football.
The month of July is exciting for anyone who loves the game of football because teams will start their training camps, which puts football being close into perspective.
The two teams that will go at it first are the Denver Broncos, who won Super Bowl 50 and the Carolina Panthers who lost it. It will be the rematch between Von Miller and Cam Newton, with Miller getting the most of Newton in the Super Bowl when he had two and a half sacks in the game, one of which forced a Newton fumble that the Broncos returned for a touchdown.
Related Story: Evan Mathis Talks Super Bowl Victory and More
We need to wait 69 days until we see that rematch, but we are getting closer.
As we wait for the two teams to kickoff the NFL season, the team at NFL Spin Zone has decided to profile a player whose number is associated with the amount of days until that first kickoff.
With that in mind, there are 69 days until football, so I will profile Arizona Cardinals guard, No. 69 Evan Mathis.
The Broncos celebrated their Super Bowl like any team would on the field, but with one player celebrating a little early. That player was Mathis. Before the game was over, somehow and someway, Mathis had a GoPro camera in his hand recording the moments of winning his first Super Bowl. Mathis told NFL Spin Zone, “It will be really fun to look back later in life and relive those times.”
Mathis will definitely have fun looking back on his Super Bowl experience, but he will also love to look back on the journey to get there.
Playing his college football at Alabama, Mathis entered the 2005 NFL Draft. He was selected by the Carolina Panthers with the 79th overall pick in the third round at the age of 24. His rookie season was a wash, he did not start a single game, but his sophomore season he opened in 15 games.
In 2007 he didn’t start a single game, which led to him being released. He signed with the Cincinnati Bengals, got cut, signed with the Miami Dolphins and got cut again, all in 2008. After being released by the Dolphins following the 2008 season, Mathis signed with the Bengals again before the start of the 2009 season. He would start seven games, but then start zero in 2010.
More from NFL Spin Zone
- Dallas Cowboys made the trade everyone else should have made
- Pittsburgh Steelers rookie sleeper everyone should be talking about
- Anthony Richardson putting jaw-dropping talent on display immediately
- Denver Broncos’ stud wide receiver might be out for a while
- Washington Commanders: Three takeaways from win over Ravens
Mathis needed to find another team before the start of the 2011 season, and he found the perfect fit. Mathis signed with the Philadelphia Eagles and caught on quickly. He would play four seasons in Philly, starting 56 of the 56 games he played in. In Philly, Mathis was looked at as arguably the best left guard in football and he earned First-Team All-Pro honors following his 2013 season. He also earned his first Pro Bowl in 2013 and earned his second in 2014.
Chip Kelly would go on to release Mathis, which was a terrible move, and Mathis signed with the Broncos before the 2015 season. We all know what happened, but Mathis said it best to NFL Spin Zone, “Chip cut 69, went 6-9 and 69 won a Super Bowl.”
It is an awesome story to look back at. Mathis went from a guy who couldn’t find a team and turned into a First-Team All-Pro player and a Super Bowl champion.
The Countdown Continues: No. 70 Weston Richburg
Mathis only signed a one-year deal in Denver, so he signed with the Cardinals this offseason. He will be a great addition to their offensive line and will be an upgrade at guard.
So, in 69 days, the 34 year old who wears No. 69 will start his 12th NFL season with his sixth NFL team looking to win another Super Bowl, while still playing at an All-Pro level.