Ira Matthews
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| Date of birth: | August 23, 1957 | ||||||||
| Place of birth: | Rockford, Illinois | ||||||||
| Height: | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) | ||||||||
| Weight: | 175 lb (79 kg) | ||||||||
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| College: | University of Wisconsin | ||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1979 / Round: 6 / Pick: 142 | ||||||||
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Ira Richard Matthews, III (born August 23, 1957 in Rockford, Illinois) is a former professional American football player who played kick returner and punt returner for three seasons for the Oakland Raiders. Matthews stood 5"8' and weighed 175 lbs which made it difficult to catch him. Matthews was named to the NFL 1979 All-Pro Team as a return man during his rookie season. On October 25, 1979, Matthews set a Monday Night Football record for kick-off returns with a 104-yard return against the San Diego Chargers. Matthews was a member of the Oakland Raiders Super Bowl XV championship team. During his three seasons with the Raiders he helped lead his team to win the 1980 Wild Card, 1981 AFC West Conference Championship, and Super Bowl XV. His career ended at the end of his 1981 season due to injuries, only playing for three seasons total.
Matthews was drafted by the Raiders in the sixth round of the 1979 NFL Draft. He played collegiate football at the University of Wisconsin, where he led the nation in punt returns in 1978, averaging 16.9 yards per punt return, including three for touchdowns. He is widely considered one of the greatest returners of the Oakland franchise.