A CHARMED LIFE Former A&M lineman Jason Mathews takes nothing for granted during his surprising NFL career By Rusty Burson

Upon meeting him, he is so unassuming, so laid-back and so utterly unpretentious that it’s difficult to imagine Jason Mathews is even involved in the luxury and lavishness of the NFL.

Of course, that’s primarily because – even after seven NFL seasons – Mathews still finds it hard believe he’s playing pro football.

"Never in a million years did I think I would be where I am today," said Mathews, a reserve tackle with the Tennessee Titans and a three-year letterman at Texas A&M from 1991-93. "So, I really feel blessed and feel fortunate that I’m even here.

"I can’t really even say this is a dream come true, because to be going into my eighth season in the NFL was way, way beyond even my most far-fetched dreams. I think 99 things had to go right for me to make it, and they all went right. What are the odds of all those things falling into place?"

About the same as Alex Rodriguez receiving a refund from the IRS.

As a freshman from Bridge City High School in 1989, Mathews was listed only on the "too-deep" defensive line depth chart. And he wasn’t even at Texas A&M.

Coming out of high school, Mathews signed with Brigham Young. But it didn’t take long to realize that his heart was back in Texas and his heartthrob was at Texas A&M.

Jason Mathews shined as an offensive lineman at A&M in 1992-93.

"My girlfriend at the time, Kim, who is now my wife, was going to A&M, and I felt out of place at BYU," Mathews said. "So, I called R.C. (Slocum). Well, actually my mom called R.C. up and asked him if they’d took a look at me.

"Fortunately, A&M found a place for me. I transferred, and after I sat out that first year, I had hoped to begin my career along the defensive line."

Unfortunately for Mathews, the Aggies then signed some of the top defensive linemen in the country, including Sam Adams and Eric England. So, in 1991, Mathews found himself at tight end.

While he may have had the body to play tight end, Mathews is probably the first to admit that he did not have the hands. Prior to 1992, he made another move to right tackle.

That’s where Mathews truly found a home. He earned the starting spot in the third game of the ’92 season and never let it go. He helped pave the way for 1,000-yard rusher Greg Hill, as the Aggies completed a perfect 12-0 regular season.

By his senior season, Mathews was a first-team All-Southwest Conference selection at right tackle. Still, the idea of playing at the next level seemed like more of a pipe dream than a plan.

"The NFL stuff was really never even a consideration until the middle of my senior year when they started coming out with all of the mock drafts and all that stuff," said Mathews, who now makes his home just outside of Nashville. "Some of them had me on there, and it was really kind of a shock for me that I was even going to get drafted. But even if I got drafted, I wasn’t planning a long NFL career."

Mathews was selected in the third round by the Indianapolis Colts in 1994, and by the 1995 season, he started all 16 regular-season games and three playoff games, as the Colts advanced to the AFC title game.

By 1997, he had played in 53 consecutive games, but his career seemed to be in serious jeopardy in 1998 when he first signed with Tampa Bay but was later waived by the Buccaneers on the final cuts prior to the start of the season.

"Tampa had too many good offensive linemen, and I was really down about getting cut," he said. "I kind of figured it might be over. But every time I think something wrong has happened to me, it turns out to be the best move in the world for me.

"Tennessee picked me up (five days prior to the start of the 1998 season), and a year later we were in the Super Bowl. I love being here. So, things obviously happen for a reason. God willing, I’ll be healthy and be able to play a couple of more years. Of course, I already feel like I’m playing on borrowed time."

Aside from 17-year veteran and future Hall of Famer Bruce Matthews, only one Tennessee lineman has more years of NFL service than Jason Mathews, who can only marvel at how things have worked out.

"It’s really weird because my brother played at McNeese State," he said. "He’s four years older than me. This guy did everything right for football. He worked in the weight room, and he ate what he was supposed to. He was a football machine, and for some reason, he didn’t make it in the NFL.

"Me, on the other hand, I like to play video games. And I’m not the muscular type. I’m not the big, wide body that you expect, and somehow I’ve made it into the NFL and lasted this long. It’s pretty baffling."

The 305-pound Mathews plans on riding it out as long as possible. But he is already looking forward to his retirement from the NFL for at least one reason. Playing in Indianapolis and Tennessee over the past seven seasons has made it impossible for Mathews to see the Aggies play in person since he left A&M in 1993.

He’s already envisioning how much fun it will be to take his wife and 3-year-old son, Brice, back to College Station for a game day in Aggieland.

"I can’t tell you how much I’m looking forward to taking my son to one of the A&M-Texas games at Kyle Field," said Mathews, who was back at Kyle Field in March for the Maroon and White spring game.

"There is no feeling in the world like a game day at Kyle Field. I don’t know what it’s going to be like for me to watch it in person and not actually be a part of the game. But that is one goal. But I can’t wait to share that excitement with my son. I vividly remember how loud it was even before the new end zone was in place. Now, I can’t wait to experience what it sounds like with that mammoth structure down there."

Mathews also plans on being a part of the next new structure at Kyle Field, the south end zone complex that will feature new coaches offices, new locker rooms, an academic center and a player’s lounge.

Mathews recently pledged his support to The Championship Vision Capital Campaign.

"There’s no way I wouldn’t be a part of that," Mathews said. "A&M has been so good to me and has provided me with the foundation to go out and have a successful career in the NFL. I’ve been so lucky through the years, and I consider it a privilege to be able to give back to my university.

"I’m looking forward to seeing what they will do with that new facility. I want to see us be the best, and from what I understand, that new facility can continue to help us attract the best players in the nation. Whenever I do get the opportunity to finally come back and watch games at Kyle Field, I want to see us whipping people all over the field, especially Texas."

In the meantime, Mathews says he will continue to support the Aggies from afar. Of course, he is also quick to point out that wherever he has gone, he has felt the support of the Aggies.

"A&M is located there in College Station, but the spirit is nationwide, really global," he said. "You don’t realize that until you go to an Indianapolis or a Tennessee. People have school spirit everywhere, there’s no doubt about that. You’ll see flags on cars for different schools and things like that.

"But even when you’re far away from College Station and Texas, you bump into people from A&M and feel that spirit and support. Even though there aren’t a huge number of Aggies in Tennessee, the ones that are here are very outspoken and you notice them. They take care of their own, and they are always there for you if you need them. I had no idea what a great university I was becoming a part of when I transferred from BYU. But I’m thrilled I did."

Consider it just another fortunate turn of events on a road that has been filled with good breaks for Jason Mathews.