Alexander Mattison

A standout high school player in California, Alexander Mattison endured the struggles of impoverishment and steered clear of gang violence. He made the choice to attend public high school and excel, and he ultimately signed to play college football at Boise State where he would make an immediate impact. He played in every game in his three seasons in Boise, rushing for nearly 3,000 yards and 33 touchdowns. In the 2019 NFL Draft, the Minnesota Vikings selected him with their third-round pick.

Mattison’s interests and drive extend far beyond the game, as he has been an esteemed scholar throughout both high school and college with a fluency in Spanish to show for it. He holds strong Christian beliefs and credits his unrelenting faith with his making it to where he is today.

Through many mental tragedies of teammates, Mattison was motivated to learn more about depression, suicide and mental health in general, both within the athletics community and beyond. In addition to self-educating, he engaged in conversations with health professionals who gave presentations and talks at Boise State.

Mattison became increasingly passionate about suicide prevention and raising awareness for mental health, and he’s since come to understand better how to support friends and family members who are battling mental illness. When the Vikings drafted him in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft, he didn’t take for granted the incredible platform. In March 2024, Mattison signed with the Las Vegas Raiders.

Following his rookie season, Mattison branded and launched I AM GIFTED, a foundation and clothing line that he’s using to be a positive light and share hope. He believes everyone was born with a gift and encourages them to find it, embrace it, and use it to shed light on this world. Through the I AM GIFTED Foundation, Mattison aims to provide dream-chasing opportunities for youth while emphasizing positive mental health practices to help navigate through the struggles and stressors in life. He partnered with Greg Bell’s Athletes For Life Foundation in order to bring the I AM GIFTED football and life skills camp series to San Bernardino, CA, Boise, ID, and Minneapolis, MN, completely free of charge.

Alexander has raised funds during the offseason to give back to his hometown of San Bernardino, CA, and added new scholarships to give to students of his alma mater. In 2016, Mattison received the Every Student Succeeding award from San Bernardino High School and is now paying it forward by providing more scholarships each year.