Matt Spaeth
Encyclopedia
Matt Spaeth is an American football
tight end
for the Chicago Bears
of the National Football League
. He was originally drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers
in the third round of the 2007 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at Minnesota
.
Spaeth won 2006's John Mackey Award
as college football
's best tight end.
–Albertville
High School in 2002, where he played both football and basketball. St Michael was in the Wright County Conference at the time. Spaeth holds multiple records at St. Michael–Albertville in both sports. As a three year starter in basketball he set records for most rebounds in a game (23), most steals in a game (8), most points in a career (1359), most career rebounds (804).
. In 2003 Matt started the season as a reserve, but was inserted into the starting lineup when starter Ben Utecht
got injured. Spaeth went on to start 10 games where he had 12 catches for 98 yards and was named to the Sportingnews.com
and Rivals.com
Freshman All-American team.
In 2004 Matt increased his production to 24 catches for 298 yards and 4 TD's. He started every game was an honorable mention pick to the All-Big Ten Team.
In 2005 Spaeth again started every game, hauling in 26 catches for 333 yards and 4 TD's. He was named to the All-Big Ten First team.
2006 was the most productive season of Spaeth's career. Despite playing the last month of the season with a separated shoulder
, Matt went on to get career highs in receptions (47) & receiving yards (564), and tied his career high in touchdowns (4). For the second consecutive year, he was named to the All-Big Ten First team, and in December was named a First Team All American
. Spaeth did not play in the Insight Bowl
on December 29 because of an injured shoulder.
in the Steelers' 34-7 win over Cleveland Browns
on September 9, 2007. When second-string tight end Jerame Tuman
was placed on injured reserve, Spaeth was promoted to second-string.
Spaeth caught 5 passes for 34 yards and 3 touchdowns in the 2007 NFL season.
In the 2008 season, Spaeth added 17 more catches to his career and 136 yards during the regular season. Along with both an increase in catches and yards, Matt also played in the Super Bowl where he had one catch. The Steelers went on to win. In 2009, Matt had 5 catches for 25 yards and 1 touchdown.
.
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...
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...
for the Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
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 originally drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
in the third round of the 2007 NFL Draft
2007 NFL Draft
The 2007 National Football League Draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 28 and April 29, 2007. The draft was televised for the 28th consecutive year on ESPN and ESPN2. The NFL Network also broadcast coverage of the event, its second year doing so...
. 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 Minnesota
Minnesota Golden Gophers football
The University of Minnesota Golden Gophers are one of the oldest programs in college football history. They compete in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision and the Big Ten Conference. The Golden Gophers have claimed six national championships and have an all time record of 646–481–44 as...
.
Spaeth won 2006's John Mackey Award
John Mackey Award
The John Mackey Award is presented annually to college football's most outstanding tight end.The award is given to the collegiate tight end who best exemplifies the play, sportsmanship, academics, and community values of NFL Hall of Fame tight end John Mackey....
as 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...
's best tight end.
Early years
Spaeth graduated from Saint MichaelSt. Michael, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 9,099 people, 2,926 households, and 2,437 families residing in the city. The population density was 279.4 people per square mile . There were 3,058 housing units at an average density of 93.9 per square mile...
–Albertville
Albertville, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 3,621 people, 1,287 households, and 984 families residing in the city. The population density was 826.3 people per square mile . There were 1,318 housing units at an average density of 300.8 per square mile...
High School in 2002, where he played both football and basketball. St Michael was in the Wright County Conference at the time. Spaeth holds multiple records at St. Michael–Albertville in both sports. As a three year starter in basketball he set records for most rebounds in a game (23), most steals in a game (8), most points in a career (1359), most career rebounds (804).
College career
Spaeth played college football at MinnesotaMinnesota Golden Gophers football
The University of Minnesota Golden Gophers are one of the oldest programs in college football history. They compete in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision and the Big Ten Conference. The Golden Gophers have claimed six national championships and have an all time record of 646–481–44 as...
. In 2003 Matt started the season as a reserve, but was inserted into the starting lineup when starter Ben Utecht
Ben Utecht
Benjamin Jeffrey Utecht is a former American football tight end who played for the Indianapolis Colts and the Cincinnati Bengals. He was signed by the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent in 2004. He played college football at Minnesota...
got injured. Spaeth went on to start 10 games where he had 12 catches for 98 yards and was named to the Sportingnews.com
The Sporting News
Sporting News is an American-based sports magazine. It was established in 1886, and it became the dominant American publication covering baseball — so much so that it acquired the nickname "The Bible of Baseball"...
and Rivals.com
Rivals.com
Rivals.com is a network of websites that focus mainly on college football and basketball recruiting. The network was started in 1996 and currently employs more than 300 personnel.-Schools:The individual collegiate sites can be found...
Freshman All-American team.
In 2004 Matt increased his production to 24 catches for 298 yards and 4 TD's. He started every game was an honorable mention pick to the All-Big Ten Team.
In 2005 Spaeth again started every game, hauling in 26 catches for 333 yards and 4 TD's. He was named to the All-Big Ten First team.
2006 was the most productive season of Spaeth's career. Despite playing the last month of the season with a separated shoulder
Separated shoulder
A separated shoulder , is a common injury to the acromioclavicular joint. This is not the same as a shoulder dislocation as that involves a dislocation of the glenohumeral joint...
, Matt went on to get career highs in receptions (47) & receiving yards (564), and tied his career high in touchdowns (4). For the second consecutive year, he was named to the All-Big Ten First team, and in December was named a First Team All American
2006 College Football All-America Team
The 2006 College Football All-America Team is composed of the following All-American Teams: Associated Press, Football Writers Association of America, American Football Coaches Association, Walter Camp Foundation, The Sporting News, Sports Illustrated, Pro Football Weekly, CBS Sports, ESPN, College...
. Spaeth did not play in the Insight Bowl
Insight Bowl
The Insight Bowl is an NCAA college football bowl game played in Arizona since 1989. From 1989 to 1999, the games were played at Arizona Stadium in Tucson. The game moved to Phoenix in 2000 and was played at Chase Field until 2005. After the 2005 playing the Insight Bowl moved to Sun Devil Stadium...
on December 29 because of an injured shoulder.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Spaeth started the season primarily on the goal line package and special teams. Spaeth's first catch in the NFL was a touchdown – catching a 5 yard pass from Ben RoethlisbergerBen Roethlisberger
Benjamin Todd "Ben" Roethlisberger , nicknamed Big Ben, is an American football quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Steelers in the first round in the 2004 NFL Draft...
in the Steelers' 34-7 win over 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 September 9, 2007. When second-string tight end Jerame Tuman
Jerame Tuman
Jerame Dean Tuman is an American football tight end who is a free agent. He was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the fifth round of the 1999 NFL Draft. He played college football at Michigan....
was placed on injured reserve, Spaeth was promoted to second-string.
Spaeth caught 5 passes for 34 yards and 3 touchdowns in the 2007 NFL season.
In the 2008 season, Spaeth added 17 more catches to his career and 136 yards during the regular season. Along with both an increase in catches and yards, Matt also played in the Super Bowl where he had one catch. The Steelers went on to win. In 2009, Matt had 5 catches for 25 yards and 1 touchdown.
Chicago Bears
As an unrestricted free agent following the 2010 season, Spaeth signed with the Chicago BearsChicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
Statistics
| YEAR | TEAM | REC | YDS | AVG | LNG | TD's |
| 2002 | MIN Minnesota Golden Gophers football The University of Minnesota Golden Gophers are one of the oldest programs in college football history. They compete in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision and the Big Ten Conference. The Golden Gophers have claimed six national championships and have an all time record of 646–481–44 as... |
|
||||
| 2003 | MIN | 12 | 98 | 8.2 | 12 | 0 |
| 2004 | MIN | 24 | 298 | 12.4 | 47 | 4 |
| 2005 | MIN | 26 | 333 | 12.8 | 36 | 4 |
| 2006 | MIN | 47 | 564 | 12.0 | 48 | 4 |
| 2007 | PIT Pittsburgh Steelers The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC... |
5 | 34 | 12.8 | 13T | 3 |
| 2008 | PIT | 17 | 136 | 8.0 | 13 | 0 |
| 2009 | PIT | 5 | 25 | 5.0 | 9 | 1 |
| 2010 | PIT | 9 | 80 | 8.9 | 13 | 1 |
| NCAA Career | 109 | 1293 | 11.9 | 48 | 12 | |
| 'NFL Career | 33 | 275 | 8.3 | 13T | 5 | |