“I Go back & I’m Paralyzed”: Deion Sanders’ Close Friend Kevin Mathis Shares Emotional Story of His Heroic NFL Revival

With lеss than 100 days rеmaining until thеir sеason opеnеr against NDSU, thе Colorado Buffaloеs havе alrеady bеgun thеir summеr practicе sеssions. Dеspitе еnding last sеason with a disappointing 4-8 rеcord, Coach Primе and his tеam arе dеtеrminеd to bouncе back this sеason with a rеvampеd rostеr. Howеvеr, in addition to rigorous practicе sеssions, thе Buffaloеs also rеcognizе thе importancе of motivation and inspiration to fuеl thеir pеrformancе on thе fiеld.

That’s why Coach Primе has assеmblеd a coaching staff with еxpеrtisе in thе NFL to providе guidancе and еncouragеmеnt. To furthеr motivatе thе dеfеnsivе linе, CU’s Cornеrback coach, Kеvin Mathis, has stеppеd forward to sharе an еmotional lifе story, not only to inspire but also to rеassurе thеm that thеy arе in capablе hands.

Coach Mathis shares his 2002 injury incident with the Buffaloes

On the June 8th episode of The Pregame Show, coach Kevin Mathis met with the defensive line players of the Buffs, with a mission to elevate their passion for the game. “I just want you guys to know that you all have something special here. Take advantage of it,” Mathis began, emphasizing the importance of seizing the opportunity. “I played 10 years in the NFL, but that’s just the glory part. You need to know the story.” To illustrate the significance of being under Coach Prime’s guidance, Mathis shared a vulnerable incident from his NFL career in 2001 when he was unexpectedly traded to the New Orleans Saints. Initially expecting to sign with the Cowboys, Mathis received a surprising call from Jerry Jones informing him of the trade. “My mouth just dropped because I went from up here to now I am down here,” he recounted.

However, instead of losing hope, Mathis chose to work tirelessly and eventually earned a starting position as a CB with the Saints. He played as the starting CB for the entire season. However, everything was going great for him until a crucial game against the Washington Commanders, where sustained a severe head injury while tackling Ki-Jana Carter of Washington. And after the injury, as Mathis remembered, he had no sense on the area he was hit. “I go back and I am paralyzed. Can’t move, keep touching, can’t feel it,” he remembered.

He was immediately admitted to a hospital and went through surgery. And after spending days in the hospital, Mathis was released but advised by doctors never to return to football again. Which meant he was left with no income due to his physical condition. “At this point, it is two weeks before my first daughter was born, so I am just sitting at the house,” he recalled, highlighting the uncertainty and challenges he faced during that time. However, amid all this, it was Deion Sanders who had his back.

Coach Primе supported Mathis during his advеrsity

It was January when he sustained the hit, and even seven months later, after consulting multiple doctors, none cleared him to play again. Amid the uncertainty surrounding his playing career, Mathis revealed that besides his mother, Deion Sanders, his former teammate, provided crucial mental support.

Recalling the morning of the injury, Mathis emphasized the significance of his routine interactions with his mother and a text message from Coach Prime. Mathis noted that Coach Prime did not usually send texts to all his colleagues, but he sent messages to Mathis every Sunday. “Those are little things that, for some reason, just stuck with me when I look back,” Mathis added.

Therefore, it is indeed a story of Mathis’ resilience, facing unexpected challenges, and finding strength in personal connections. Coach Prime appeared to bring them all to him when Mathis needed it the most.