Bob Matheson

This article is about the National Football League player. For other people, seeRobert Matheson (disambiguation).

Bob Matheson

No. 56, 53
Position:	Linebacker
Personal information
Born:	(1944-11-25)November 25, 1944 Boone, North Carolina,U.S.
Died:	September 5, 1994(1994-09-05)(aged 49) Durham, North Carolina,U.S.
Height:	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight:	235 lb (107 kg)
Career information
High school:	Appalachian (Boone, North Carolina)
College:	Duke
NFL draft:	1967/ Round: 1 / Pick: 18
Career history
As a player:
Cleveland Browns(1967–1970) Miami Dolphins(1971–1979)
As a coach:
Duke(1981–1982) (LB) Miami Dolphins(1983–1987) (LB/ST) Minnesota(1988–1991) (assistant)
Career highlights and awards
2×Super Bowl champion(VII,VIII) First-teamAll-American(1966) 2× First-team All-ACC(1965,1966)
Career NFL statistics
Interceptions: 12 Interception yards: 152
Player stats atPFR

Robert Matheson(November 25, 1944 – September 5, 1994) was anAmerican footballlinebackerwho played 13 seasons in theNational Football League(NFL). He played in threeSuper Bowlsfor theMiami Dolphins,including their 1972 and 1973 championships.

A linebacker atDuke University,he was drafted in 1967 by theCleveland Brownsin the first round of the NFL Draft, was the first year of the common draft between the AFL and NFL. He was then acquired by the Dolphins prior to the 1971 season, after Miami defensive coordinatorBill Arnspargerrequested head coachDon Shulato do so. Miami gave up their second round draft pick in 1972 in exchange.Matheson went to Miami one year after the Dolphins acquiredPaul Warfieldfrom Cleveland.

Matheson was often used by the Dolphins as a fourth linebacker in passing situations. This defensive alignment was often referred to as the "53" defense, named for Matheson's No. 53 jersey. This is also referred to as a3–4 defense,with three linemen and four linebackers.

After leaving the Dolphins in 1979, Matheson returned to Duke as an assistant coach. He later coached special teams and linebackers for five years with the Miami Dolphins. He then joined Duke alumniJohn Gutekunstas an assistant coach at theUniversity of Minnesota.In 1993, he returned to Duke to work at its Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Matheson died on September 5, 1994, atDuke University Hospitalfrom complications ofHodgkin's disease,which he had had for 13 years.