To say that receiver John Metchie III has faced adversity since the end of his college career and start of his professional journey with the Texans is putting it mildly.
He's faced injury and illness during his short NFL career, but pushed through and won the Professional Football Writers of America's 2024 George Halas Award, given to the NFL player, coach or staff member who overcomes the most adversity to succeed.
That certainly defines Metchie's career.
Metchie caught 155 receptions for more than 2,000 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns during his collegiate career at Alabama. He broke out during his final year at Alabama with 96 receptions for 1,142 yards and eight touchdowns in 13 games. However, he tore his ACL in his last college game during the 2021 SEC Championship against Georgia.
That was only the beginning of his struggles.
Metchie entered the 2022 NFL draft following his junior season despite the injury but wasn’t able to participate in drills during the pre-draft process. His talent was so evident that not only did the Texans make him a top-50 selection but they traded up to do so by shipping out three picks in their third-rounder (No. 68) and two fourth-rounders (No. 108 and No. 124) in the 2022 draft to secure him.
Texans WR wins 2024 George Halas Award
The Texans and Metchie knew he would have a difficult journey his rookie season in working back from injury. No one was prepared for or expecting the next brutal hit to Metchie just two months after his selection. In July of 2022, Metchie was diagnosed with Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia.
The rookie would spend his entire first season working back from a major injury and beating leukemia instead of defensive backs. It would have been enough to break most young men.
Instead, Metchie did what he always did: He went to work. He rehabbed from the ACL injury, beat cancer, took his first reps and learned under a new coaching staff and with a rookie quarterback in 2023.
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In all honesty, 2023 was more like Metchie’s rookie season. Despite all that he had to overcome, learn and work back from, he was still able to contribute this past season. His 16 receptions for 158 yards may not be eye-popping on the surface but when you factor in all that he has overcome and how he consistently contributed and improved, it’s quite impressive.
In his first action, Metchie was able to contribute. Despite being behind the likes of Nico Collins, Tank Dell, Noah Brown and Robert Woods, Metchie carved out a contributor role with one to two receptions per game in 13 regular season contests.
As the season went on, he improved and became more comfortable. He had his best game of his career in the Wild Card round against the Browns in which he hauled in all three of his targets for 44 receiving yards. It’s the most receptions and receiving yards he had in an NFL game to date.
Metchie III was named the 2024 George Halas Award winner after beating quarterbacks Joe Flacco and Tua Tagovailoa. Metchie is the second Texans player to be named as the award winner, following David Quessenberry’s win in 2017.
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John Metchie’s career timeline
- Dec. 4, 2021: Tears ACL
- April 29, 2022: Drafted by Texans
- July 24, 2022: Placed on active/non-football illness list
- 2022 season: Missed while being treated for cancer
- Feb. 15, 2023: Activated to active roster
- July 2023: Returned to practice field
- Sept. 17, 2023: First NFL action (14 plays, one target, one reception for 17 yards)
- Sept. 24, 2023: First multi-reception game (15 plays, two targets, two receptions for 13 years)
John Metchie’s future
Houston has a ton of talent on the current roster at receiver in Stefon Diggs, Nico Collins, Tank Dell, Noah Brown, Ben Skowronek, Robert Woods and Steven Sims. Currently, only Metchie and Dell are under contract past 2024. Metchie should be heavily involved in the top-4 at the position in 2024.
If injuries hit any of the top 3, Metchie could move into a starter’s role in 11-personnel. He’s also part of the top trio at the position for the future, assuming Collins receives an extension at some point.
Another sign pointing to Metchie’s ascension is the praise that’s been heaped in his direction by his stellar quarterback C.J. Stroud. Pre-draft, Stroud met with the media and repeatedly brought up how great Metchie has looked this offseason. It’s worth noting that each time Stroud brought up the third-year receiver it was unsolicited and Stroud made sure to repeatedly mention to the media his affinity for the wideout.
It’s great to see Metchie’s work ethic and character as a man get nationally recognized. Next up, he’ll remind everyone why he was selected as a top-50 prospect despite coming off a torn ACL. His best ball is ahead of him and he’ll make the most of the last two years under his rookie contract with Stroud.
