Matt Stewart
Encyclopedia
Matt Stewart is an American football
linebacker
and long snapper
who is currently a free agent
. He was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons
in the fourth round of the 2001 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at Vanderbilt
.
Stewart has also been a member of the Cleveland Browns
, Arizona Cardinals
, Dallas Cowboys
, and Pittsburgh Steelers
.
.
. He earned a bachelors degree in Mechanical Engineering.
in the fourth round (102nd overall) in the 2001 NFL Draft
. In his rookie season he played in 15 games and finished the season with 16 tackles. In the 2002 season, he played in all 16 games starting 13 of them, he finished the season with 87 tackles.
as a free agent
in 2005. He appeared in 30 games (16 starts) for the team over the next two seasons, recording 59 tackles (44 solo), one sack, one interception and two passes defensed. He missed the entire 2007 season on injured reserve
with a torn shoulder muscle before becoming a free agent in 2008.
. He was later released on August 30, 2008 during final cuts.
and linebacker Keith Brooking
who were also both members of the Atlanta Falcons. However, he did not make the final roster for the 2009 season.
had signed Stewart as a long snapper. He was released on July 30, 2010. On August 23, 2010, the Steelers re-signed Stewart to a one-year deal. He was again released on September 4, 2010.
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...
and long snapper
Long snapper
In American football and Canadian football, the term long snapper refers to a player who is a specialized center during punts, field goals, and extra point attempts. His job is to snap the ball as quickly and accurately as possible....
who is currently a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
. He was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the fourth round of the 2001 NFL Draft
2001 NFL Draft
The 2001 NFL Draft took place on April 21–22, 2001 at the theater at Madison Square Garden, in New York City. This was the 66th National Football League draft in league history. The draft was broadcast on ESPN both days and eventually moved to ESPN2. No teams elected to claim any players in the...
. 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 Vanderbilt
Vanderbilt Commodores football
The Vanderbilt Commodores football program is a college football team that represents Vanderbilt University. The team currently competes in NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the Southeastern Conference...
.
Stewart has also been a member of 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...
, Arizona Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
, and 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...
.
Early years
He played for St. Francis DeSales High SchoolSt. Francis DeSales High School (Columbus, Ohio)
St. Francis DeSales High School is located in Columbus, Ohio and is part of the Catholic Diocese of Columbus. The school has an enrollment of approximately 1,000 students, in four grade levels.-Location:...
.
College career
He totaled 269 tackles and 15 sacks in the 44 games he played in at Vanderbilt UniversityVanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University is a private research university located in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Founded in 1873, the university is named for shipping and rail magnate "Commodore" Cornelius Vanderbilt, who provided Vanderbilt its initial $1 million endowment despite having never been to the...
. He earned a bachelors degree in Mechanical Engineering.
Atlanta Falcons
Stewart was selected by the Atlanta FalconsAtlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the fourth round (102nd overall) in the 2001 NFL Draft
2001 NFL Draft
The 2001 NFL Draft took place on April 21–22, 2001 at the theater at Madison Square Garden, in New York City. This was the 66th National Football League draft in league history. The draft was broadcast on ESPN both days and eventually moved to ESPN2. No teams elected to claim any players in the...
. In his rookie season he played in 15 games and finished the season with 16 tackles. In the 2002 season, he played in all 16 games starting 13 of them, he finished the season with 87 tackles.
Cleveland Browns
Stewart signed with the Cleveland BrownsCleveland 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...
as a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
in 2005. He appeared in 30 games (16 starts) for the team over the next two seasons, recording 59 tackles (44 solo), one sack, one interception and two passes defensed. He missed the entire 2007 season 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...
with a torn shoulder muscle before becoming a free agent in 2008.
Arizona Cardinals
On April 16, 2008, Stewart signed a one-year contract with the Arizona CardinalsArizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. He was later released on August 30, 2008 during final cuts.
Dallas Cowboys
On March 3, 2009 Stewart agreed to terms on a one-year contract with the Cowboys reuniting him with Head Coach Wade PhillipsWade Phillips
Wade Allen Phillips is the defensive coordinator for the Houston Texans and former head coach for the National Football League's Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos, and Buffalo Bills. He was also an interim head coach for the New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons...
and linebacker Keith Brooking
Keith Brooking
Keith Howard Brooking is a linebacker for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the first round of the 1998 NFL Draft. He played college football at Georgia Tech...
who were also both members of the Atlanta Falcons. However, he did not make the final roster for the 2009 season.
Pittsburgh Steelers
On June 7, 2010, it was reported that the Pittsburgh SteelersPittsburgh 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...
had signed Stewart as a long snapper. He was released on July 30, 2010. On August 23, 2010, the Steelers re-signed Stewart to a one-year deal. He was again released on September 4, 2010.