Matt McCoy (football player)
Encyclopedia
Matthew Garrett McCoy is an American football
linebacker
for the Seattle Seahawks
of the National Football League
. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles
in the second round of the 2005 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at San Diego State
.
McCoy has also played for the New Orleans Saints
and Tampa Bay Buccaneers
.
. He set the school record for sacks
with 18.5 sacks as a junior. As a senior, Matt broke his own record with 23 and was named "High School Defensive Player of the Year" by the Orange County Register.
at San Diego State University
where he won All-Mountain West Conference
honors. He finished his career with eight sacks, 270 tackles
(26.5 for losses), four forced fumble
s, three fumble recoveries, four pass deflections
, and a blocked kick.
in the 2005 NFL Draft
as a project linebacker whom Eagles personnel felt they could develop. McCoy was expected to contribute to special teams, but never really contributed his rookie
season. Going into 2006, he was named the weakside linebacker starter
by Defensive Coordinator
Jim Johnson
. Initially he had been praised as having great speed, sideline to sideline pursuit abilities and a high motor, as well as described as a "ball hawk". He had an injured shoulder later in the year that prevented him from playing as well as he had during the first 6 weeks of the season, and ultimately led to his benching in favor of rookie Omar Gaither
. McCoy finished the season with 66 tackles, 2 sacks, 3 forces fumbles, and 5 tackles for loss.
At the beginning of the 2007 season, McCoy was listed as a back-up linebacker and a starter on special team kickoffs
. In the team's Week 8 game against the Minnesota Vikings
, McCoy was flagged for unnecessary roughness after a late hit on punter Chris Kluwe
. The following day, he was cut in favor of practice squad linebacker Akeem Jordan
. When asked about the penalty's affect on the transaction, head coach
Andy Reid
said Jordan was more the reason for the move.
on November 3, 2007. He appeared in four games with the team, recording two solo tackles.
McCoy was not tendered a contract by the team as a restricted free agent
the following offseason, making him an unrestricted free agent.
.
After being inactive for the 2009 regular season opener, McCoy recorded one tackle against the Buffalo Bills
on September 20. He was released by the Buccaneers on September 26 when wide receiver
Mario Urrutia
was promoted from the practice squad. He was re-signed on September 29, when Urrutia was waived. McCoy was released again on October 13, to make room for newly signed wide receiver Yamon Figurs
. He was re-signed on November 11.
.
On December 26, 2010, McCoy was in a fight during a game against Tampa Bay. He was removed from the game.
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...
linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
for 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...
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 drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the second round of the 2005 NFL Draft
2005 NFL Draft
The 2005 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 23–24, 2005. The league also held an supplemental draft that year, which was held after...
. 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 San Diego State
San Diego State Aztecs football
The San Diego State football team represents the San Diego State Aztecs in college football. The Aztecs, a Division I FBS team and a member of the Mountain West Conference, play their home games at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California. The field is natural grass and has a maximum capacity of...
.
McCoy has also played for 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 ....
and Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
.
Early years
Matt is the second of four siblings: Jeff, (the eldest) and (the twins ) Sean & Devin. Matt's sister Devin passed away in 2008. Father- Mark McCoy married to Stepmother Kimberly Rex-McCoy. Mother-Tammy Ann Venezia. Matt attended Tustin High School in Tustin, CaliforniaTustin, California
-Top employers:According to the City's 2010 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are:-2010:The 2010 United States Census reported that Tustin had a population of 75,540. The population density was 6,816.7 people per square mile...
. He set the school record for sacks
Quarterback sack
In American football and Canadian football, a sack occurs when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage before he can throw a forward pass, or when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage in the "pocket" and the intent of what he was going to do is unclear...
with 18.5 sacks as a junior. As a senior, Matt broke his own record with 23 and was named "High School Defensive Player of the Year" by the Orange County Register.
College career
Matt McCoy played college footballCollege 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 San Diego State University
San Diego State University
San Diego State University , founded in 1897 as San Diego Normal School, is the largest and oldest higher education facility in the greater San Diego area , and is part of the California State University system...
where he won All-Mountain West Conference
Mountain West Conference
The Mountain West Conference , popularly known as the Mountain West, is the youngest of the college athletic conferences affiliated with the NCAA’s Division I FBS . The MWC officially began operations in July 1999...
honors. He finished his career with eight sacks, 270 tackles
Tackle (football move)
Most forms of football have a move known as a tackle. The primary purposes of tackling is to disposses an opponent of the ball, to stop the player from gaining ground towards goal or to stop them from carrying out what they intend....
(26.5 for losses), four forced fumble
Fumble
A fumble in American and Canadian football occurs when a player, who has possession and control of the ball loses it before being downed or scoring. By rule, it is any act other than passing, kicking or successful handing that results in loss of player possession...
s, three fumble recoveries, four pass deflections
Pass deflected
In American football a pass deflected, also known as a pass defended, a pass defensed, a pass knock down, or a pass break up, is an incomplete pass that is caused by a defensive player...
, and a blocked kick.
Philadelphia Eagles
McCoy was drafted by the Philadelphia EaglesPhiladelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the 2005 NFL Draft
2005 NFL Draft
The 2005 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 23–24, 2005. The league also held an supplemental draft that year, which was held after...
as a project linebacker whom Eagles personnel felt they could develop. McCoy was expected to contribute to special teams, but never really contributed his rookie
Rookie
Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of their sport or has little or no professional experience. The term also has the more general meaning of anyone new to a profession, training or activity Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of...
season. Going into 2006, he was named the weakside linebacker starter
Starting lineup
A starting lineup in sports is an official list of the set of players who will actively participate in the event when the game begins. The players in the starting lineup are commonly referred to as starters, whereas the others are substitutes or bench players.The starters are commonly the best...
by Defensive Coordinator
Defensive coordinator
A defensive coordinator typically refers to a coach on a gridiron football team who is in charge of the defense. Generally, along with his offensive counterpart, he represents the second level of command structure after the head coach...
Jim Johnson
Jim Johnson (football coach)
Jim Johnson was an American football coach, formerly serving as defensive coordinator with the Philadelphia Eagles...
. Initially he had been praised as having great speed, sideline to sideline pursuit abilities and a high motor, as well as described as a "ball hawk". He had an injured shoulder later in the year that prevented him from playing as well as he had during the first 6 weeks of the season, and ultimately led to his benching in favor of rookie Omar Gaither
Omar Gaither
-Philadelphia Eagles:Gaither was drafted in the fifth round of the 2006 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles. Gaither received significant playing time later in the 2006 season due to the struggles and injury of starter Matt McCoy. Gaither got his first NFL start at weakside linebacker on December...
. McCoy finished the season with 66 tackles, 2 sacks, 3 forces fumbles, and 5 tackles for loss.
At the beginning of the 2007 season, McCoy was listed as a back-up linebacker and a starter on special team kickoffs
Kickoff (American football)
A kickoff is a method of starting a drive in American football and Canadian football. Typically, a kickoff consists of one team – the "kicking team" – kicking the ball to the opposing team – the "receiving team"...
. In the team's Week 8 game against the Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
, McCoy was flagged for unnecessary roughness after a late hit on punter Chris Kluwe
Chris Kluwe
Christopher James "Chris" Kluwe is a punter for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League. He was originally signed by the Seattle Seahawks, as an undrafted free agent in 2005...
. The following day, he was cut in favor of practice squad linebacker Akeem Jordan
Akeem Jordan
Akeem Raphael Jordan is an American football linebacker for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League . He was signed by the Eagles as an undrafted free agent in 2007. He played college football at James Madison....
. When asked about the penalty's affect on the transaction, head coach
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
Andy Reid
Andy Reid
Andrew Walter "Andy" Reid is the head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles of the NFL, a post he has held since 1999. Since 2001, he has also been the team's executive vice president of football operations...
said Jordan was more the reason for the move.
New Orleans Saints
After being let go by the Eagles, McCoy was signed by the New Orleans SaintsNew 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 ....
on November 3, 2007. He appeared in four games with the team, recording two solo tackles.
McCoy was not tendered a contract by the team as a restricted free agent
Restricted free agent
A restricted free agent is a professional athlete who plays in the KHL, NFL, NHL, or NBA. Such players have special restrictions on the terms under which they can retain or change employment status with their athletic club teams.- NFL :...
the following offseason, making him an unrestricted free agent.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
On March 4, 2008, McCoy signed with the Tampa Bay BuccaneersTampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
.
After being inactive for the 2009 regular season opener, McCoy recorded one tackle against the Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
on September 20. He was released by the Buccaneers on September 26 when wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
Mario Urrutia
Mario Urrutia
Mario Urrutia, Jr. is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the seventh round of the 2008 NFL Draft...
was promoted from the practice squad. He was re-signed on September 29, when Urrutia was waived. McCoy was released again on October 13, to make room for newly signed wide receiver Yamon Figurs
Yamon Figurs
Yamon Figurs is an American football wide receiver and return specialist who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the third round of the 2007 NFL Draft...
. He was re-signed on November 11.
Seattle Seahawks
On March 16, 2010, McCoy signed with 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 December 26, 2010, McCoy was in a fight during a game against Tampa Bay. He was removed from the game.