Matt Lytle
Encyclopedia
Matthew Lytle is a former American football
quarterback
of the National Football League
. He was signed by the Seattle Seahawks
as a street free agent in 2000. He played college football
at Pittsburgh
.
Lytle was also a member of the Carolina Panthers
, Baltimore Ravens
and Colorado Crush
.
of NFL Europe and won World Bowl VIII
.
on August 28, 2000. He made his NFL debut on October 22 in a 31-3 loss to the Oakland Raiders
, but did not record any statistics. He also appeared in the team's 17-15 win over the San Diego Chargers
on November 5.
Lytle was later waived and re-signed to the practice squad on November 23.
' active roster after defensive end
Jason Peter
was placed on injured reserve
. He was inactive for every game the rest of the season.
Lytle made his 2001 preseason debut for the Panthers on August 18 in a 23-8 loss to the New England Patriots
. He attempted just one pass in the game, failing to connect with receiver Jim Turner. Lytle saw more extensive action in the preseason finale against the Cleveland Browns
on August 31. After a 90-yard kickoff returned for a touchdown by Browns receiver Andre King
with five minutes remaining in the game, Lytle led the two-play, 59-yard drive which culminated with a 51-yard touchdown to receiver Dialleo Burks
. Lytle finished the game 5-for-8 for 114 yards and a touchdown, while also carrying the ball twice for a total of five yards, as the Panthers beat the Browns 23-20.
Lytle began the 2001 season as the Panthers' third-string quarterback behind starter Chris Weinke
and backup Dameyune Craig
. He made his regular season Panthers debut on November 4 against the Miami Dolphins
after Weinke went down with a shoulder injury and Craig with a foot injury. Lytle played the final six minutes of the game against the Dolphins, going 2-for-4 for seven yards and losing 13 yards on two sacks as the Panthers lost 23-6.
The following week against the St. Louis Rams
, Lytle made his first and only NFL start. He completed 15 of 25 passes for 126 yards and a touchdown while rushing for eight yards on two carries. However, he was also intercepted for Rams defensive backs Kim Herring
and Aeneas Williams
. His first career touchdown pass came on a four-yard grab by tight end
Kris Mangum
, but the Panthers fell to the Rams 48-14.
Lytle's final Panthers appearance came the following month in a 27-23 loss to the New Orleans Saints
. Lytle threw just one pass in the game after Weinke went down with a concussion, and was intercepted by cornerback
Fred Thomas
.
The following offseason, Lytle was tendered a contract offer by the Panthers as an exclusive-rights free agent. However, the team rescinded the offer on May 21, 2002, making him an unrestricted free agent.
on July 23, 2003. He failed to make the team out of training camp, however, and was released on August 25.
of the Arena Football League. However, he failed to earn a job with the team on opening day and was released in favor of Jose Davis
and John Dutton on February 2, 2004.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He was signed by the Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
as a street free agent in 2000. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh Panthers football
Pittsburgh Panthers football is the intercollegiate football team of the University of Pittsburgh, often referred to as "Pitt", located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Traditionally the most popular sport at the university, Pitt football has played at the highest level of American college football...
.
Lytle was also a member of the Carolina Panthers
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion...
, Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his...
and Colorado Crush
Colorado Crush
Colorado Crush were an Arena Football League team that began play as a 2003 expansion team. The Crush played in the Central Division of the American Conference until the Arena Football League suspended operations in 2009...
.
Rhein Fire
In the 2000 offseason, Lytle played for the Rhein FireRhein Fire
The Rhein Fire was a professional American football team in NFL Europe, formerly the World League of American Football. Established in Germany in 1995, the franchise resurrected the name of the former Birmingham Fire team which was active during the 1991-1992 WLAF seasons.-History:The team was...
of NFL Europe and won World Bowl VIII
World Bowl VIII
World Bowl 2000 was NFL Europe's championship game, which would bring an end to the 2000 NFL Europe season. Played at Waldstadion in Frankfurt, Germany on June 25, 2000, the match-up was between the 6-4 Scottish Claymores and the 7-3 Rhein Fire...
.
Seattle Seahawks
Lytle was claimed off waivers by the Seattle SeahawksSeattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
on August 28, 2000. He made his NFL debut on October 22 in a 31-3 loss to the Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, but did not record any statistics. He also appeared in the team's 17-15 win over the San Diego Chargers
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
on November 5.
Lytle was later waived and re-signed to the practice squad on November 23.
Carolina Panthers
On December 4, 2000, Lytle was signed off the practice squad to the Carolina PanthersCarolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion...
' active roster after defensive end
Defensive end
Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years...
Jason Peter
Jason Peter
Jason Michael Peter is a retired American football player. Peter was an All-American defensive tackle his senior year at the University of Nebraska and was taken in the first round by the Carolina Panthers in the 1998 NFL Draft. His career was shortened by a recurring and chronic neck stinger...
was placed on injured reserve
Injured reserve
The injured reserve list is a list of reserved players who are injured and unable to play for a period of time, used most prominently in the National Hockey League and National Football League . It is used because these leagues have a maximum number of players on the team roster, so placing a...
. He was inactive for every game the rest of the season.
Lytle made his 2001 preseason debut for the Panthers on August 18 in a 23-8 loss to the New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
. He attempted just one pass in the game, failing to connect with receiver Jim Turner. Lytle saw more extensive action in the preseason finale against the Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
on August 31. After a 90-yard kickoff returned for a touchdown by Browns receiver Andre King
Andre King
Andre Omar King is a former American football wide receiver in the National Football League. He played for the Cleveland Browns from 2001 to 2004. He went to the University of Miami for college...
with five minutes remaining in the game, Lytle led the two-play, 59-yard drive which culminated with a 51-yard touchdown to receiver Dialleo Burks
Dialleo Burks
Dialleo Burks Sr. is a special teams and fullback / linebacker coach for the Georgia Force and former arena football wide receiver / defensive back for the Arena Football League...
. Lytle finished the game 5-for-8 for 114 yards and a touchdown, while also carrying the ball twice for a total of five yards, as the Panthers beat the Browns 23-20.
Lytle began the 2001 season as the Panthers' third-string quarterback behind starter Chris Weinke
Chris Weinke
Christopher Jon Weinke is a former professional American football and baseball player. After spending six years in the Toronto Blue Jays minor league baseball system, he enrolled at Florida State University at the age of 26, and played quarterback for the Florida State Seminoles...
and backup Dameyune Craig
Dameyune Craig
Dameyune Vashon Craig is a former professional American football quarterback in the National Football League for four seasons for the Carolina Panthers. He is currently the quarterbacks coach for Florida State University.-Early years:Craig played high school football for Mattie T. Blount High...
. He made his regular season Panthers debut on November 4 against the Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
after Weinke went down with a shoulder injury and Craig with a foot injury. Lytle played the final six minutes of the game against the Dolphins, going 2-for-4 for seven yards and losing 13 yards on two sacks as the Panthers lost 23-6.
The following week against the St. Louis Rams
St. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
, Lytle made his first and only NFL start. He completed 15 of 25 passes for 126 yards and a touchdown while rushing for eight yards on two carries. However, he was also intercepted for Rams defensive backs Kim Herring
Kim Herring
Kimani 'Kim' Masai Herring is a former American football safety in the National Football League.-High school years:...
and Aeneas Williams
Aeneas Williams
Aeneas Demetrius Williams is a former American football cornerback and free safety, who played with the Arizona Cardinals and the St. Louis Rams. Williams attended Fortier High School, where he played football on a team with three future NFL players. Although he was admitted to Dartmouth College,...
. His first career touchdown pass came on a four-yard grab by tight end
Tight end
The tight end is a position in American football on the offense. The tight end is often seen as a hybrid position with the characteristics and roles of both an offensive lineman and a wide receiver. Like offensive linemen, they are usually lined up on the offensive line and are large enough to be...
Kris Mangum
Kris Mangum
Kris Thomas Mangum is a former American football player who played tight end for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League throughout his entire NFL career. He attended the University of Mississippi. His father, John Mangum, Sr. and his brother, John Mangum, Jr...
, but the Panthers fell to the Rams 48-14.
Lytle's final Panthers appearance came the following month in a 27-23 loss to the New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
. Lytle threw just one pass in the game after Weinke went down with a concussion, and was intercepted by cornerback
Cornerback
A cornerback is a member of the defensive backfield or secondary in American and Canadian football. Cornerbacks cover receivers, to defend against pass offenses and make tackles. Other members of the defensive backfield include the safeties and occasionally linebackers. The cornerback position...
Fred Thomas
Fred Thomas (American football)
Frederick L. Thomas is former American football cornerback in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the second round of the 1996 NFL Draft...
.
The following offseason, Lytle was tendered a contract offer by the Panthers as an exclusive-rights free agent. However, the team rescinded the offer on May 21, 2002, making him an unrestricted free agent.
Baltimore Ravens
After spending the 2002 season out of football, Lytle was signed by the Baltimore RavensBaltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his...
on July 23, 2003. He failed to make the team out of training camp, however, and was released on August 25.
Colorado Crush
On November 23, 2003, Lytle signed with the Colorado CrushColorado Crush
Colorado Crush were an Arena Football League team that began play as a 2003 expansion team. The Crush played in the Central Division of the American Conference until the Arena Football League suspended operations in 2009...
of the Arena Football League. However, he failed to earn a job with the team on opening day and was released in favor of Jose Davis
Jose Davis
Jose Davis is an American Arena Football League quarterback who was most recently the second string quarterback for the Cleveland Gladiators before being cut to make room for former New England Patriots and New York Dragons quarterback Rohan Davey.-High school years:Davis attended Bellaire High...
and John Dutton on February 2, 2004.