Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer is shaping up to play on Sundays next year, and get this: he’s taking notes and getting advice from Pro Football Hall of Famer Terry Bradshaw. Seriously, the longtime FOX NFL studio analyst is in his ear. It’s a connection nobody saw coming, and it could be huge for Mateer’s professional aspirations.
From Card Show Banter to Daily Texts
This wild friendship kicked off in the most unexpected way: a Dallas card show. Mateer was just there, minding his business, when someone asked him if he wanted to meet Bradshaw. “Yeah, duh. Who wouldn’t?” Mateer told FOX Sports’ Tom Rinaldi. What started as a quick intro quickly turned into something more, with Mateer recalling, “I kind of started giving it to him and pushing his buttons a little bit. He gives it right back, and it’s on.” The banter led to genuine mentorship, with Bradshaw’s advice simple but profound: “Let it ride. You feel it. You throw the ball.” Mateer is still a bit floored by the whole thing, saying, “Who am I to think I’d be able to talk to people like that? And now I text him, and we call, and he calls me.” He can’t help but wonder, “What did I do to get this blessing?”
Bouncing Back Mentally From a Brutal Season
Mateer’s path to Oklahoma wasn’t straightforward. He spent his first three collegiate seasons at Washington State before transferring to the Sooners. Last season, he started 12 games, throwing for 2,885 yards, 14 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions, with a 129.4 passer rating and 62.2% completion percentage. He also added 431 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on the ground. But his 2025 campaign took a hit in Week 4 when he broke a bone in his throwing hand, forcing him to miss a start and play through the injury for the rest of the season. Despite the adversity, the Sooners still managed a 10-2 record, hosting Alabama in the first round of the College Football Playoff before their season ended. Mateer doesn’t blame the injury for his late-season play, recognizing the bigger picture. “Leading through whenever you’re not playing at your best is very difficult,” he told Rinaldi. “It sucked. I broke my thumb. It was just a lot going on for me. The biggest lesson is that with all that going on, you have to find a way for your mind to be in the right spot. I did not look back and say ‘I played poorly because of my thumb.’ It was because of my mind.”
That mental fortitude is already paying off. Mateer absolutely dominated in Week 1, throwing for 225 yards and three touchdowns, leading Oklahoma to a huge 51-0 win over UTEP. With that kind of resilience and a Pro Football Hall of Famer on speed dial, Mateer’s future looks incredibly bright. It’s going to be exciting to watch him continue to “let it ride” this season and see where that takes him next.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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