Tag: Bill Mathis

Bill Mathis, original member of Titans/Jets, dead at 81

Bill Mathis, an original member of the Jets franchise, has died, the team announced. He was 81.

Bill Mathis, an original member of the Jets franchise, has died, the team announced Thursday. He was 81.

The tough as nails running back was with the organization from its inception in 1960, when the team was known as the Titans, through the 1969 season. He spent his entire career with New York and was a key cog in the team’s Super Bowl III win and two AFL division titles.

Mathis was one of four Titans who won the Super Bowl as Jets. He had three receptions and three rushes in the victory. Mathis is also one of 20 players who played through the AFL’s entire 10-year existence and one of just seven to stay with the same team throughout that span.

A two-time AFL All-Star, Mathis retired with 3,589 yards and 37 touchdowns rushing. The Jets great totaled 5,364 yards and 46 touchdowns from the line of scrimmage. Mathis is ninth on Gang Green’s all-time rushing list.

A North Carolina native, Mathis enjoyed a career on Wall Street after his playing days. The Jets did not announce a specific cause for his death, but he suffered from Alzheimer’s disease, dementia and symptoms consistent with chronic traumatic encephalopathy, per The New Yorker.

Mathis sued the NFL in 2012, claiming the league had deceived players regarding head injuries.

Bilal Powell moves up to 8th on Jets’ all-time rushing list

Bilal Powell moves up no No. 8 on the Jets’ all-time rushing list.

Bilal Powell has cemented himself as one of the best running backs in Jets history.

In Sunday’s game against the Dolphins, Powell moved up to No. 8 on the team’s all-time rushing list, passing Bill Mathis with 3,591 yards. Coming into the game, Powell needed 19 yards to move ahead of Mathis and got 20 rushing yards on New York’s first drive of the game.

Powell has been on the Jets for his entire nine-year career. The Jets took him in the fourth-round out of Louisville back in 2011.

Powell has always been a reliable player for the Jets, though he’s never truly been a No. 1 running back. But whenever he has gotten a chance to play, he’s made the most of it, whether it’s running the football or as a pass-catcher.

The next player Powell has to catch on the Jets’ all-time rushing list is Thomas Jones, who is currently at 3,833 yards.

Bilal Powell approaching eighth on Jets’ all-time rushing list

Bilal Powell needs 19 more yards to move up to 8th on the Jets all-time rushing list.

Bilal Powell has seen his playing time diminished this season, but that hasn’t stopped him from moving his name up in the Jets ‘record books.

Powell is 19 yards away from passing Bill Mathis for No. 8 on the team’s all-time rushing list. He is currently at 3,571 yards. With Le’Veon Bell’s status for Sunday’s game in question, Powell could see a lot of playing time and move up on the list.

Powell has had a remarkable career in green and white, but he’s not taking all the credit.

“It’s a privilege to be in the NFL,” Powell told reporters. “I can’t give credit to myself. I’ve had some good offensive linemen that helped me along the way… I’m worried about the team first, going to get a ‘W’ vs. the Dolphins.”

The 31-year old running back is the longest-tenured Jet on the roster. He was drafted in the fourth round back in 2011 out of Louisville.

Powell has always been consistent with the Jets. He has never been the superstar running back, but he is reliable. In eight-plus seasons with the Jets, Powell has run for over 600 yards three times while also having two seasons of over 300 receiving yards. His best season came in 2017 when he ran for 772 yards and five touchdowns.

This could be Powell’s last season with Gang Green given his age and the Jets’ situation at running back. To finish his Jets career as a top 10 rushing leader in Jets history would be well deserved for Powell.