John Metchie III

John Metchie III (born July 18, 2000) is an American football wide receiver for the Houston Texans of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide, winning the Jon Cornish Trophy twice prior to being selected by the Texans in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Metchie sat out his rookie season after being diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia and returned to play in 2023.

Early life
Metchie was born in Taiwan to a Nigerian father and Taiwanese mother on July 18, 2000. His family moved to Accra, Ghana, when he was one before moving to Brampton, Ontario, Canada, with his mother and four brothers while his father remained in Ghana. He then moved to the United States to attend St. James School in Hagerstown, Maryland. Metchie spent a post-graduate year at the Peddie School in Hightstown, New Jersey, before committing to play college football at the University of Alabama.

College career
Metchie played in all 13 games as a freshman at Alabama in 2019 and had four catches for 23 yards. He became one of Alabama's top three receivers his sophomore year in 2020 racking up 916 yards on 55 receptions with six touchdowns. He was the first receiver to win the Jon Cornish Trophy as the top Canadian in NCAA football in the 2020 season. As a junior in 2021, Metchie recorded 96 receptions for 1,142 yards and eight touchdowns before tearing his ACL in the 2021 SEC Championship Game. Metchie was again named the recipient of the Jon Cornish Trophy, joining Nathan Rourke as the only two-time winners.

Professional career
Metchie was selected by the Houston Texans in the second round (44th overall) of the 2022 NFL Draft. He was also selected by the BC Lions in the seventh round (59th overall) of the 2022 CFL Draft before signing a four-year contract, worth $8 million, with the Texans on May 14, 2022. In July, Metchie announced he would sit out his rookie season after being diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia.

A year after receiving his diagnosis, Metchie was cleared to attend training camp. He played his first career NFL game in Week 2 against the Indianapolis Colts and finished the season with 16 receptions for 158 yards. Metchie was named the recipient of the 2024 George Halas Award by the Pro Football Writers of America for his adversity.

Personal life
His older brother, Royce Metchie, is a defensive back for the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League.