At 41 years old, balding amongst much younger teammates competing for a roster spot, Matt Bryant wasn’t a lock with the Falcons after succumbing to a quad injury the season prior. But then, the fifteen year veteran did the most unexpected thing an athlete at his age could do: he earned a spot on this year’s Pro Bowl, his first honor.
“In the past I’ve had some great years when it didn’t happen and it was like a ‘Are you kidding me?’ type deal,” Bryant told the Associated Press. “But when it came to this time I knew I had a good chance and luckily and gratefully I was selected.”
Bryant’s career has been peppered with accomplishments: there was his game-winner from 49 yards against the Seahawks in the 2012 divisional playoff; his 62-yarder punched in to beat Philly in 2006 – the second/third longest game winner in history; a franchise record 59-yarder against the Chiefs earlier this year.
Arguably the greatest highlight of Bryant’s lengthy career was his performance with the Falcons this season, booting in 34 of 37 field goals and leading the NFL in scoring with 158 points, 17 more than the Austin Westlake graduate Justin Tucker of the Ravens.
With the best offense the Falcons have ever fielded, the placekicker veteran is the beneficiary; his two of three misses were over 50 yards, but he also made six from the same distance.
A product of Orange, Texas, Bryant competed with Bridge City High School, setting numerous records for the team including the longest field goal (52 yards) that still stands today. Eager to attract attention from colleges, he filled out questionnaires with his experience at linebacker, settling with junior college enrollment at Trinity Valley Community College in Athens, Texas.
As a member of the football team, Bryant was a two-time NJCAA All-American and played on the 1994 national championship team. The Texas graduate ventured briefly outside of his home state to Oregon State University, but transferred to Waco, where he played two seasons with the Bears, ranking seventh on the all-time scoring list with 105 points; Bryant’s 21 field goals sits at fifth in school history.
After Baylor, Bryant tinkered at odd jobs and competed in AFL, UFL, and NFL Europe before the Giants gave him a chance, four years post-graduation. The journey through numerous franchises concluded with a seven-year stay in Atlanta, becoming the all-time points leader of the team during a Week 8 game against the Green Bay Packers, passing Morten Anderson; Bryant is now responsible for 892 points and 196 field goals made for the program- both records.
“It’s everything knowing that when we have our opportunity and it’s in the right spot for us to go, we’re going to let it rip and attack,” coach Quinn told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “There is zero hesitation from a coaching standpoint, knowing what Matt is capable of.”
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