John Metchie III

John Metchie III's Biography

John Metchie III, a seasoned professional football player, was born in Taiwan to a Nigerian father and Taiwanese mother on July 18th, 2000. At just a year old, his family moved to Accra, Ghana. A short while later, Metchie, alongside his mother and four siblings, moved to the North American city of Brampton, Ontario, in Canada. His father remained back in Ghana.

John’s life took a significant turn when he moved to the United States to gain a quality education at the St. James School in Hagerstown, Maryland. His journey towards his American dream further progressed as he eventually spent a year at the Peddie School in Hightstown, New Jersey for his post-graduate studies. His life was set on a specific trajectory when he chose to play college football at the University of Alabama.

In 2019, as a freshman at Alabama, Metchie played in all 13 football games, proving himself on the field with four catches that summed up to 23 yards. His dedication and commitment were evident when he came out as one of Alabama’s top three receivers in his second year. His exceptional performance did not go unrecognized. Metchie managed to accumulate an impressive 916 yards on 55 receptions with six touchdowns.

In the 2020 season, Metchie broke the record by becoming the first receiver to win the prestigious Jon Cornish Trophy as the top Canadian in NCAA football. His journey continued on a high note in 2021 when, as a junior, he recorded 96 receptions for 1,142 yards and eight touchdowns. However, this soaring trajectory experienced a minor setback when he tore his ACL in the 2021 SEC Championship Game.

Despite the setback, Metchie remained undeterred. His resilience paid off as he was once again named the recipient of the Jon Cornish Trophy. With this honor, he joined the elite club of two-time winners, the only other member being Nathan Rourke.

Metchie’s talent drew the attention of the Houston Texans of the National Football League. In the second round of the 2022 NFL draft, he was selected by the team and was subsequently enlisted 44th overall. Concurrently, Metchie also caught the eye of the BC Lions who chose him in the seventh round of the 2022 CFL Draft.

Preferring the Texans, Metchie entered a four-year contract with them on May 14th, 2022, for an impressive sum of $8 million. However, a sudden health scare made him pause his career. In July of the same year, Metchie announced that he would be sitting out for his rookie season due to a diagnosis of acute promyelocytic leukemia.

This setback, however, did not last long. A year later, Metchie was back in the game with a clean bill of health, and he was cleared to attend the team’s training camp. He got his first chance to make a mark in his NFL career in Week 2 against the Indianapolis Colts. In his comeback season, he finished strong with 16 receptions for 158 yards. This extraordinary comeback earned him the 2024 George Halas Award by the Pro Football Writers of America, an acknowledgment of his ability to triumph over adversity.

Metchie’s passion for football seems to run in his family as his elder sibling, Royce Metchie, is a defensive back in the Canadian Football League, playing for the Toronto Argonauts. The inspiring journey of John Metchie III, through his ups and downs, perseverance, and triumphs, continue to make a significant impact on the world of American football.