For a decade, Evan Mathis has probably been one of the steadiest performers in the National Football League.
Beginning with his rookie season with the Carolina Panthers in 2005, the Homewood High School and University of Alabama graduate gained a reputation as a player who wouldn’t make a lot of noise off the field but would do his job on the field as well as anyone.
Mathis’ career really took off after being traded from the Cincinnati Bengals to the Philadelphia Eagles in 2011. Since then he has started every game for the Eagles at left guard. Last season, Mathis earned All-Pro honors from at least two respected organizations.
In 2013, he did even better. After helping lead Philadelphia to a 10-6 record and a playoff berth, Mathis was named to the prestigious Associated Press All-NFL team for the first time. In addition, Pro Football Focus ranked Mathis as the best guard in the league.
And perhaps the biggest honor of all came a few days later when Mathis was selected to play for the National Football Conference in the Pro Bowl in Honolulu on Jan. 26.
“It’s obviously a great honor,” Mathis said when contacted last week. “Making All-Pro and getting to play in the Pro Bowl have been goals of mine since the Homewood days. I didn’t expect it to take quite this long, but I’m grateful for the journey that brought me here.”
The Eagles’ season ended on a disappointing note when the New Orleans Saints pulled off a 26-24 upset in the opening round of the playoffs.
Despite the loss, Mathis is impressed with first-year coach Chip Kelly, who came to Philadelphia after turning the University of Oregon into a college powerhouse.
“Coach Kelly is brilliant,” Mathis said. “He’s innovative, logical and forward-thinking. He and his staff do a great job making sure our bodies are taken care of and are at their peak on game days. There’s not a team in the league that utilizes modern sports science the way we do.”
And while Mathis is grateful and appreciative for all the post-season honors, there is one prize he would value above all others.
“I’d much rather have a Super Bowl ring than any individual honor,” he said. “The individual awards are great, but I’d trade them in a heartbeat to have the opportunity to still be playing. Since we aren’t in the playoffs, the honors do help me keep my mind off the fact our season is over.”
Mathis’ selection for the Pro Bowl, however, meant his sabbatical from football was brief.
“Since I’ve never played in the game before, I don’t have any preconceived notion of what it will be like,” he said. “Hawaii is a great place to visit, and there will be some good people there. I’m really looking forward to the experience.”
After the Pro Bowl, Mathis plans to spend much of the off-season working out at the Zone Athletic Performance facility in Scottsdale, Ariz., which he founded four years ago. His younger brother, Adam, runs the operation.
“Adam is one of the two head trainers and runs the business part of it,” Mathis said. “He does a tremendous job. I go there and get some amazing training in an awesome environment.”
Mathis has found as much fulfillment in his personal life as in his football career. He and his wife Katelyn are the parents of a daughter, Lee Ila, who is about to celebrate her second birthday.
“She’s almost two, but she already runs the household,” Mathis said, laughing.” My wife and I have the best time with her. Being a father is my greatest life accomplishment.”
Those who have followed Mathis since his high school days may find it hard to believe, but he has just completed his 10th season in the NFL. Retirement doesn’t seem to be on his mind.
“If my body continues to hold up, I hope to keep going for another four to six seasons,” he said.
For all his success at the highest level of professional football, Mathis has never lost touch with his network of friends and family back home, including Bob Newton, his former coach at Homewood.
“This past season, I communicated with Coach Newton almost every week,” Mathis said. “The amount of support and congratulations I’ve received from friends and family is phenomenal. I’m lucky to know so many good people.”
Through hard work and grit, Evan Mathis has made his own luck–all the way to Hawaii and the Pro Bowl.
