Jerome Pathon

Jerome Pathon (born December 16, 1975) is a South African-born Canadian former gridiron football player who was a wide receiver for eight seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Washington Huskies, earning first-team All-American honors in 1997. Selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the second round of the 1998 NFL draft, he played in the NFL for the Colts, New Orleans Saints, and Atlanta Falcons. After his playing career, he was a position coach for both the University of South Florida and University of San Diego football teams.

Early life Born in Cape Town, South Africa, Pathon's family emigrated due to apartheid and settled in Vancouver when he was five. Pathon initially played soccer and ran track before picking up Canadian gridiron football at 14 years old. He was a student of Carson Graham Secondary School in North Vancouver, Canada from 1987 to 1992.

College career Initially denied a scholarship to several American universities and more local Canadian schools, for the University of Washington Huskies, where he eventually became a standout wide receiver over three seasons from 1995 to 1997. His 73 receptions his senior year was the most in school history at the time and still ranks fifth all-time on the Huskies' single season record book. He gained 1,299 yards receiving that year at an average of 108.3 yards per game, both school records at the time, including 4 receptions for 54 yards in the Huskies' 51–23 victory over Michigan State in the 1997 Aloha Bowl.

NFL playing career

Pathon was originally drafted 32nd overall in the second round of the 1998 NFL draft by the Indianapolis Colts. He was also selected by the Montreal Alouettes in the second round (11th overall) of the 1997 CFL draft. Pathon played 46 regular-season games for Indianapolis (1998–2001) and 45 games for the New Orleans Saints from 2002 to 2004. On December 21, 2003, during his time with the Saints, he scored the touchdown in the famous play known as The River City Relay, which could have led to a tie game, but only for the extra point to be missed by John Carney. He also played for the Atlanta Falcons in 2005. He finished with 260 career receptions for 3,350 yards and 15 touchdowns in 99 NFL games played as well as 36 kickoff returns for 773 yards.

NFL career statistics Legend Bold Career high

Regular season Year Team Games Receiving GP GS Rec Yds Avg Lng TD 1998 IND 16 15 50 511 10.2 45 1 1999 IND 10 2 14 163 11.6 38 0 2000 IND 16 10 50 646 12.9 38 3 2001 IND 4 3 24 330 13.8 60 2 2002 NOR 14 13 43 523 12.2 64 4 2003 NOR 16 12 44 578 13.1 40 4 2004 NOR 15 7 34 581 17.1 38 1 2005 ATL 9 0 1 18 18.0 18 0 100 62 260 3,350 12.9 64 15

Playoffs Year Team Games Receiving GP GS Rec Yds Avg Lng TD 1999 IND 1 0 5 44 8.8 13 0 2000 IND 1 1 5 69 13.8 25 1 2 1 10 113 11.3 25 1

Coaching career Pathon became the wide receivers coach at the University of San Diego in July 2009. Pathon became the wide receivers coach at South Florida in February 2012.

Lawsuit against the NFL In December 2011, Pathon announced that he and a group of 11 other professional players had filed a lawsuit against the NFL. Pathon and his attorneys allege that the League failed to properly treat head injuries in spite of prevailing medical evidence, leading the players to develop effects of brain injury ranging from chronic headaches to depression.