Matt Bryant was born May 29, 1975 in Orange, Texas and attended Bridge City High School in Bridge City where he played both football and baseball. After high school, Bryant attended Trinity Valley Community College in Athens, Texas where he was a two time NJCAA All-American and a member of the 1994 national championship team. He then signed with Oregon State University, later transferring to Baylor University where he ranks seventh in all-time scoring for placekickers with 105 points from 21 field goals and 42 extra points. His 21 field goals place him fifth in Bears’ history and his career 42-42 extra points set the school record with a 100 percent success rate. After graduation, Bryant played for a short time with both the Arena Football League and NFL Europe before he was signed in 2002 as a free agent by the New York Giants. Bryant played one season with the Giants and, after playing with both the Indianapolis Colts and the Miami Dolphins, he was signed as a free agent by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2005. On October 22, 2006 Bryant successfully converted a 62-yard field goal as time expired in Tampa Bay’s 23-21 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles. The field goal was the second longest in NFL history and the mayor of Tampa declared the following day, “Matt Bryant Day.” Bryant was signed to the Atlanta Falcons on December 1, 2009 where he continues in his role as kicker. Matt Bryant and his wife, Melissa, established the Matthew Tryson Bryant Foundation in honor of their son, Tryson, to raise awareness for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). All proceeds from the foundation go to the March of Dimes.

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