Steven Matt Bryant (born May 29, 1975 in Orange, Texas) is an American football placekicker for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League. He was signed by the Frankfurt Galaxy as a street free agent in 2002. He played college football at Baylor.
| refer to caption Matt Bryant during his tenure with the Buccaneers. | |||||||||||
| Atlanta Falcons | |||||||||||
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| Personal information | |||||||||||
| Born: | May 29, 1975 Orange, Texas | ||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||
| College: | Baylor | ||||||||||
| Undrafted: | 2002 | ||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||
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| * Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||||||
| Roster status: | Active | ||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics as of Week 17, 2012 | |||||||||||
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Bryant has also been a member of the New York Giants, Indianapolis Colts, Miami Dolphins, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Florida Tuskers.
Early years
After playing football and baseball at Bridge City High School in Bridge City, Texas where he still holds the record for longest field goal,[1] Bryant would go on to attend Trinity Valley Community College in Athens, Texas where he was a two time NJCAA All-American and a member of the 1994 national championship team. He then signed with Oregon State University, later transferring to Baylor University where he ranks seventh in all-time scoring list with 105 points (21 field goals and 42 extra points) also his 21 field goals place him fifth in Bears history and hit 42-42 extra points to set the school record with a 100 percent success rate.[1] After graduating, he went undrafted and worked for several years at a pawn shop, and then as a personal trainer.[1]
Professional career
NFL Europe
Bryant had brief stints with the Iowa Barnstormers of the Arena Football League and the Frankfurt Galaxy of NFL Europe.
New York Giants, Indianapolis Colts and Miami Dolphins
Originally signed by the New York Giants in 2002 as a free agent, he remained until he was cut by Tom Coughlin in the coach's initial season with the team.[2] After that release, Bryant played one week with the Indianapolis Colts and then 3 weeks with the Miami Dolphins.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Bryant was signed as a free agent by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers prior to the 2005 season.
On October 22, 2006, Bryant successfully converted a 62-yard field goal as time expired in Tampa Bay's 23-21 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles. The field goal was the second longest in NFL history, behind the 63-yarders kicked by Tom Dempsey in 1970, Jason Elam in 1998, Sebastian Janikowski in 2011, and David Akers in 2012.
On October 23, 2006, in response to his 62-yard field goal, Mayor Pam Iorio declared October 23 to be "Matt Bryant Day" in Tampa, Florida.
On September 5, 2009, the Buccaneers released Bryant and replaced him with Mike Nugent. On October 5, 2009, the Buccaneers cut Nugent after he missed two field goals in Washington in the team's three point loss.
Florida Tuskers
Prior to the start of the 2009 season, the Florida Tuskers signed Bryant to a contract.
Atlanta Falcons
Bryant was signed by the Atlanta Falcons on December 1, 2009, to replace kicker, Jason Elam. In the 2012 divisional playoffs against the Seattle Seahawks, Bryant kicked the game-winning 49-yard field goal to send the Falcons to the NFC Championship Game.[3]
Personal
Bryant participated in 2002 United Way Hometown Huddle by conducting a football clinic at the Highbridge Center for members of Alianza Dominicana, a local United Way agency that services families in Washington Heights. He visited the Keller Army Community Hospital at West Point to participate in the Foundation for Hospital Art’s Paintfest 2003.
Bryant drinks a chocolate milkshake on the night before each of his football games. He also is known for squeezing his size 10.5 foot into a size 9 kicking shoe for games.
Matt is married to Melissa and the couple had six children.[4] On September 24, 2008, their youngest son Tryson died in his sleep, age three months, apparently from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).[5] Despite that tragedy, a day after his son's funeral, he returned to play and kicked three field goals for the team to beat Green Bay Packers, having kicked the game-winning field goal the week before against Chicago Bears in overtime.
After the season, Matt and Melissa established the Matthew Tryson Bryant Foundation to raise awareness for SIDS. Proceeds go to the March of Dimes.[6][1]
References
- ^ a b c d Asher, Matthew (2012-10-09). "The Road Less Traveled: Falcons Kicker Matt Bryant Has Seen It All". CBS Atlanta. Retrieved 2013-01-13.
- ^ Gola, Hank (2012-01-06). "Giants Atlanta Falcons Matt Bryant is still kicking after NY Giants signed the former Texas pawn shop worker in 2002". New York Daily News. Retrieved 2013-01-13.
- ^ Newberry, Paul (2013-01-13). "Bryant's late FG lifts Falcons over Seattle 30-28". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved 2013-01-13.
- ^ Stroud, Rick (2008-09-25). "Son of Bucs kicker Bryant dies". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved 2013-01-13.
- ^ Bryant's infant son dies
- ^ Bryants to kick off drive to help infants from ESPN.com, June 11, 2009