Quick Facts of Tyler Matakevich

American football linebacker Tyler Matakevich is a member of the National Football League (NFL) Buffalo Bills. His perseverance, leadership, and hard work are well recognized both on and off the field.

We will examine his life narrative in this piece, covering his formative years through his professional career, to find out more about his accomplishments, struggles, and personal life.

How much is the Net worth of Tyler Matakevich?

With the Buffalo Bills in 2020, he inked a $9 million, two-year contract, to play alongside former Temple teammates Lee Smith and Dion Dawkins. He became an important member of one of the league’s top special teams units—the Bills.

Participating in every 16 games, he recorded 20 tackles along with one pass deflection. In addition, he tied the NFL record for most blocked punts in a season with a career-high three. He made the Bills win their first AFC East championship since 1995 and advance to their first AFC Championship game since 19932.

Early years, Family and Education

On December 22, 1992, Tyler John Matakevich was born in Stratford, Connecticut, in the United States. His mother Karen, a former basketball player, and father John, a former baseball player, raised him in a household that loved sports. Ashley and Brittany, his two elder sisters, were active athletes in both high school and college.

Tyler took an early interest in football and began participating in the Pop Warner league at the age of seven. He attempted to imitate the energy and style of the renowned Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis, whom he looked up to. He was a baseball and basketball player as well, but his favorite sport was football.

Family Background

Tyler comes from a fascinating and diverse family. His mother, Karen, is of Italian and German ancestry, while his father, John, is of Polish and Irish ancestry. They both went to the same high school and were raised in Bridgeport, Connecticut. After being married in 1987, they relocated to Stratford to raise their three kids.

John Sr., Tyler’s paternal grandfather, was a member of the US Army Air Corps and a World War II veteran. He flew 35 sorties over Europe as a B-17 bomber’s tail gunner. In addition to the Purple Heart, he received the Air Medal and the Distinguished Flying Cross. At the age of 88, he passed away in 2010.

Frank, Tyler’s maternal grandpa, was a professional baseball player who spent time in the minor leagues with the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees. His lifetime batting average as a catcher was.273. After retiring in 1957, he worked as a coach and teacher. At the age of 82, he passed away in 2012.

High school and college career

Tyler participated in football at St. Joseph High School in Trumbull, Connecticut, where he was a linebacker and running back. He was an outfielder and pitcher in baseball as well. Tyler was not heavily recruited by big collegiate programs despite his great stats.

Temple University, a mid-major university in Philadelphia, only offered him a scholarship because they thought he was too little and slow for his position. Although he accepted the offer, he made the decision to spend a year at the prep school Milford Academy in New York in order to raise his GPA and develop his talents.

Tyler disproved his skeptics at Temple. As a freshman, he participated in all 13 games, starting his first one against USF in Week 5. With 101 tackles, he became the first freshman in school history to record 100 tackles. In addition, he was selected as a Freshman All-American and won the Big East Rookie of the Year title.

Journey to pro

Tyler struggled to fulfill his dream of being an NFL player. Many scouts and analysts passed him over once more because they doubted his size, speed, and athleticism.

In the 2016 NFL Draft, he was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the seventh round (246th overall), making history as the school’s first drafted player since 2012. He was selected as the 11th player from the AAC and the 34th linebacker overall. Also, he agreed to a $2.4 million, four-year contract that included a $64,270 signing bonus.

He played largely on special teams with the Steelers for four seasons. With 14 and 16, respectively, he led the squad in special teams tackles in 2017 and 2018. In Week 10 of the 2018 season, against the Carolina Panthers, he also picked off Cam Newton for his first career interception. With the Steelers, he appeared in 63 games and recorded 112 tackles, one interception, and one forced fumble.

Injuries and Setbacks

Throughout his football career, Tyler has experienced a number of injuries and disappointments, but he has always bounced back thanks to his tenacity and willpower. In his senior year of high school, he suffered a broken foot during a preseason scrimmage and missed five games. He recovered in time to help his team win a state championship and receive an invitation to Temple for a scholarship.

During his junior year of college, he sustained a shoulder injury that restricted his strength and range of motion. Despite the hardship, he persevered and recorded 117 tackles along with one interception. Following the season, he underwent surgery, and in his senior year, he fully recovered.

During his NFL rookie season, he tore his labrum in his left shoulder, forcing him to play the remainder of the season wearing a brace. After the season, he underwent another operation, which kept him out of much of the off-season training. He made it back in time for training camp, where he secured a roster berth.

Does Tyler Have a Girlfriend or Wife?

While Tyler is single, he has been dating Brianna Turgeon for a long time. Brianna was a cheerleader at Temple, where they first connected. Since they started dating in 2014, they have shared numerous photos of one another on social media. Their two pets, Cooper, a golden retriever, and Louie, a French bulldog, reside with them in Buffalo.

In addition, Tyler maintains friendships with a large number of his NFL and Temple colleagues as well as ex teammates. He calls Dion Dawkins his brother, and the two of them are especially close.

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