Ned Alfred Mathews (August 11, 1918 – September 18, 2002) was a professional American football player who played running back for four seasons in the National Football League for the Detroit Lions and Boston Yanks. With the Lions, he led the league in kickoff returns and ranked second in interceptions thrown. He also played in the American Football League for the Hollywood Rangers, with whom he scored 18 touchdowns on 65 carries. Mathews was a college football quarterback at UCLA.