Jordan Matthews Bio
Jordan Armand Matthews, born on July 16, 1992, in Madison, Alabama, is an American professional football tight end who has built a versatile career across multiple National Football League (NFL) franchises. Known for his reliable hands, football intelligence, and willingness to evolve, Matthews first rose to national attention as a record-setting receiver at Vanderbilt University before being selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft. He later transitioned from wide receiver to tight end after the 2020 season, demonstrating his commitment to extending his professional career.
Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighing around 236 pounds, Matthews combines size with route-running polish, traits that have allowed him to remain a valued contributor on offense and special teams. Over the course of his NFL career, he has been part of teams including the Eagles, Buffalo Bills, New England Patriots, San Francisco 49ers, and Carolina Panthers, recording 274 receptions for 3,288 receiving yards and 22 receiving touchdowns through the 2024 season.
Early Life and Background
Jordan Armand Matthews was raised in Madison, Alabama, by his parents, Rod Matthews and Brenda Matthews, and grew up alongside his brother, Justin. He attended Madison Academy, where he developed as a multi-sport athlete, lettering in both football and basketball. As a senior, he led the Madison Academy football team to a 12–1 record, finishing his high school career with 181 receptions for 3,218 receiving yards and 38 touchdowns.
Matthews was rated as a three-star recruit coming out of high school and drew early interest from Auburn, where director of Football External Operations Phillip Lolley reached out to his family. He had planned to walk on at Auburn before Vanderbilt head coach Bobby Johnson extended a scholarship offer on Christmas Eve in 2009, after wide receiver prospect Bradley Roby de-committed from the program. Matthews also received scholarship offers from Kansas, Tulane, Arkansas State, and Jacksonville State, and he committed to Vanderbilt on December 26, 2009.
Path to American Football
Matthews arrived at Vanderbilt in 2010 and quickly earned a role in the Commodores’ offense. As a true freshman, he recorded 15 receptions for 181 yards and four touchdowns, and he expanded his impact each season, finishing his sophomore year with 41 receptions for 778 yards and five touchdowns. His production earned him a place on the 2012 Biletnikoff Award Watch List.
As a junior in 2012, Matthews was named a first-team All-Southeastern Conference (SEC) selection and earned third-team All-American honors from Phil Steele and CBS SportsLine.com, finishing the year with 94 receptions for 1,323 yards and eight touchdowns. During his senior campaign in 2013, he repeated as a first-team All-SEC pick and was recognized as a first-team All-American by USA Today, Athlon, CBS Sports, Sports Illustrated, and the Associated Press. He set the all-time SEC record for career receptions and career receiving yards, won the 2013 CFPA Elite Wide Receiver Trophy, and was the MVP of the 2014 BBVA Compass Bowl after recording five receptions for 143 yards and two touchdowns.
Jordan Matthews Career
Early Career (2014)
The Philadelphia Eagles selected Matthews with the 42nd overall pick in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft, trading up 12 spots to secure him. He signed a four-year deal on May 27, 2014, and made an immediate impact in his rookie season. Matthews scored his first two career touchdowns in a Week 3 win over the Washington Redskins and posted seven catches for 138 yards and two touchdowns against the Carolina Panthers on Monday Night Football in Week 10, finishing his debut year with 67 receptions for 872 yards and eight touchdowns.
Matthews’ strong start established him as a central figure in the Eagles’ passing attack. His combination of size, body control, and red-zone production gave quarterback Sam Bradford a reliable target, and he entered his second season as one of the team’s primary receivers.
Philadelphia Eagles Breakthrough (2014–2016)
In his second NFL season in 2015, Matthews opened the year with 10 receptions for 102 yards against the Atlanta Falcons and went on to post 85 receptions for 997 yards and eight touchdowns. He strung together several 100-yard performances, including nine catches for 133 yards and a touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys on October 8, and eight receptions for 159 yards and a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals on December 20. He closed the regular season with seven receptions for 54 yards and two touchdowns in a 35–30 win over the New York Giants.
Matthews’ third season in 2016 coincided with the arrival of rookie quarterback Carson Wentz. He caught seven passes for 114 yards and a touchdown in the season-opening win over the Cleveland Browns but never reached 100 receiving yards again that year, finishing with 73 receptions for 804 yards and a career-low three touchdowns. His most productive outing came against the Dallas Cowboys on October 30, when he recorded 11 receptions for 65 yards and a touchdown in a narrow 29–23 loss.
Buffalo Bills Era (2017)
On August 11, 2017, the Eagles traded Matthews, along with a 2018 third-round pick, to the Buffalo Bills in exchange for cornerback Ronald Darby. Matthews debuted for Buffalo on September 10 against the New York Jets, finishing with two receptions for 61 yards in a 21–12 win. He caught his first touchdown as a Bill in a 23–17 upset of the Atlanta Falcons, but fractured his right thumb during the same game and missed time before returning ahead of schedule against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Matthews was placed on injured reserve on December 5, 2017, with a knee injury and finished the season with career-low totals of 25 receptions for 282 yards and one touchdown. Despite the shortened year, his presence helped stabilize a young Bills receiving corps during a transitional season.
New England Patriots and Return to Philadelphia (2018)
Matthews signed a one-year, $1 million contract with the New England Patriots on April 5, 2018, with $300,000 guaranteed. His time in New England was brief, as a hamstring injury suffered in late July led to his release on August 1, 2018. Shortly after, the Philadelphia Eagles re-signed him on September 19, 2018, to bolster an injury-depleted receiving group.
Back with the Eagles, Matthews recorded a 56-yard receiving touchdown against the Tennessee Titans in Week 4 for his first score of the season. He closed the year with 20 catches for 300 yards and two touchdowns, and added one reception for 37 yards and a touchdown in two playoff games as Philadelphia made its postseason run.
San Francisco 49ers Era (2019–2022)
Matthews signed a one-year deal with the San Francisco 49ers on March 14, 2019, but was released during final roster cuts on August 31 before being brought back on October 3 and waived again on October 26. He rejoined the Eagles briefly in November 2019, then signed with the 49ers on December 11, 2019, and was part of the roster when San Francisco reached Super Bowl LIV, a 31–20 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
In 2020, Matthews spent most of the season on the 49ers’ practice squad and was elevated for Weeks 16 and 17. Following the season, he announced a position switch to tight end, adding roughly 30 pounds to his frame. He re-signed with the 49ers in 2021, splitting time between the practice squad and active roster, and signed a reserve/future contract in February 2022. A torn ACL suffered in practice on August 4, 2022, ended that season and marked a difficult turning point in his career.
Carolina Panthers Era (2023–2025)
Matthews was signed to the Carolina Panthers’ practice squad on October 25, 2023, before being promoted to the active roster on November 7. After a brief release and re-signing, he signed a reserve/future contract on January 8, 2024. In 2024, he bounced between the practice squad and active roster multiple times, signing another reserve/future contract on January 6, 2025, before being released by the Panthers on May 8, 2025.
Driving Style and Strengths
Matthews has long been recognized for his precise route running, strong hands, and physicality at the catch point. After moving to tight end, he added size and leverage as a blocker while maintaining the receiver instincts that defined his early career, allowing him to align in multiple spots and offer quarterbacks a dependable intermediate target.
Notable Events and Milestones
Matthews set the SEC career records for receptions and receiving yards during his 2013 season at Vanderbilt, was a first-team All-American that same year, and was named MVP of the 2014 BBVA Compass Bowl. He has appeared in two Super Bowl organizations’ postseason runs with the Eagles and 49ers, and surpassed 3,000 career receiving yards during his time in the NFL.
Jordan Matthews Career Wins
Jordan Armand Matthews has built a steady career defined by reliable receiving production rather than championship hardware, with 274 receptions for 3,288 receiving yards and 22 receiving touchdowns through the 2024 NFL season. His on-field success has been measured in consistent target share, red-zone efficiency, and the trust of quarterbacks across multiple franchises.
NFL Career Highlights
Matthews opened his career with the Philadelphia Eagles, posting back-to-back seasons of 67 and 85 receptions in 2014 and 2015 and reaching the 1,000-yard mark in 2015 with 997 receiving yards. He has been particularly productive in prime-time games, including a 138-yard, two-touchdown performance on Monday Night Football against the Carolina Panthers in 2014 and a 159-yard outing against the Arizona Cardinals in 2015.
Other Wins and Performances
Matthews’ college résumé includes 262 receptions for 3,759 yards and 24 touchdowns at Vanderbilt, marks that stood as both SEC and school records at the conclusion of his career. He added postseason experience with the Eagles in 2018 and the 49ers in 2019, including a Super Bowl LIV appearance with San Francisco.
Jordan Matthews Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Jordan Armand Matthews is the son of Rod Matthews and Brenda Matthews, and he has one brother, Justin. Through his mother’s side of the family, Matthews is related to Pro Football Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice, whose cousin is Brenda Matthews. This deep football lineage helped shape his early interest in the sport.
Personal Life
Matthews is married to professional soccer player Cheyna Williams, who plays for the Chicago Red Stars of the National Women’s Soccer League. Williams also attended Vanderbilt before graduating from Florida State University. The couple have three sons together. Matthews is a Christian and a member of the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity, and through his foundation, Matthews Mission, he has hosted charity events, including the Vanderbilt Legends Charity Softball Game that benefits organizations fighting domestic violence.
2025 Season Performance
Jordan Armand Matthews entered the 2025 offseason as a veteran tight end with 11 NFL seasons of experience and a reputation for steady production in the passing game. After signing a reserve/future contract with the Carolina Panthers in January 2025, he was released by the team on May 8, 2025, leaving his next opportunity open as the new league year progressed.
Matthews’ ability to play both tight end and wide receiver, along with his special-teams background, kept him in position to attract interest from clubs seeking experienced depth at the position. With 274 career receptions and 22 receiving touchdowns on his résumé, he remained a low-risk option for teams looking to bolster their receiver or tight end rooms.
Looking ahead, Matthews’ 2025 outlook will depend on securing a roster spot with a franchise in need of veteran leadership. His track record of producing in high-volume roles at both Vanderbilt and in the NFL suggests that he can still contribute as a situational pass catcher and locker-room presence, regardless of where he lands next.