Ray Mathews

Ray Mathews

Mathews on a 1952 Bowman football card
No. 44, 25
Position:	Halfback, end
Personal information
Date of birth:	(1929-02-26)February 26, 1929
Place of birth:	Dayton, Pennsylvania
Date of death:	December 20, 2015(2015-12-20) (aged 86)
Place of death:	Mercer, Pennsylvania
Height:	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:	185 lb (84 kg)
Career information
High school:	McKeesport (PA) Area
College:	Clemson
NFL Draft:	1951 / Round: 7 / Pick: 81
Career history
As player:
Pittsburgh Steelers (1951–1959) Dallas Cowboys (1960)
As coach:
Calgary Stampeders (1961) Washington Redskins (1968)
Career highlights and awards
All-SoCon (1950) 2× Pro Bowl (1952, 1955)
Career NFL statistics
Games played: 114 Player stats at NFL.com
Player stats at PFR

Raymond Dyral Mathews (February 26, 1929 – December 20, 2015) was an American football halfback and end in the National Football League (NFL) for the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Dallas Cowboys. He played college football for Clemson University.

Mathews attended McKeesport Area High School, before moving on to Clemson University, where he played baseball and football. He was the starting halfback in a backfield that included Fred Cone.

The 1948 team finished undefeated and beat the University of Missouri, 24-23, in the 1949 Gator Bowl.

As a senior, he was a part of another undefeated season and played in the 1951 Orange Bowl, beating the University of Miami 15–14. He made an acrobatic reception for one of the touchdowns.

In 1978, he was inducted into the Clemson Athletic Hall of Fame.

Mathews was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the seventh round (81st overall) of the 1951 NFL Draft. He was mostly a backup to running back Fran Rogel. Because of his speed, he was switched to wide receiver in 1956. He was also used as a kickoff and punt returner.