Matt Spaeth

Matt Spaeth (born November 24, 1983) is a former American football tight end. He played college football at Minnesota, where he was twice named a first-team member of the All-Big Ten team, once a first-team All-American, and the 2006 winner of the John Mackey Award.

Matt Spaeth
refer to caption
Spaeth with the Bears in 2011
No. 89, 87
Position:Tight end
Personal information
Born: (1983-11-24) November 24, 1983
St. Michael, Minnesota, U.S.
Height:6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
Weight:270 lb (122 kg)
Career information
High school:St. Michael–Albertville
College:Minnesota
NFL Draft:2007 / Round: 3 / Pick: 77
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Receptions:55
Receiving yards:420
Receiving touchdowns:10
Player stats at NFL.com

He was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the third round of the 2007 NFL Draft and played seven seasons for them, becoming a Super Bowl champion when the Steelers defeated the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII. He also played two seasons for the Chicago Bears.

Early years

Spaeth graduated from St. Michael-Albertville, in St. Michael, Minnesota 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), and most career rebounds (804).

College career

Spaeth played college football at Minnesota. 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 touchdowns. 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 touchdowns. 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. He was also awarded the team's Bronko Nagurski Most Valuable Player Award. Spaeth did not play in the Insight Bowl on December 29 because of an injured shoulder.[1]

Professional career

NFL Draft

Spaeth was invited to the NFL Scouting Combine.[2] He ran a 4.83 40-yard dash time.[3]

Pittsburgh Steelers
Matt Spaeth at the Steelers 2008 training camp

Spaeth was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the third round of the 2007 NFL Draft.[4] 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 Roethlisberger in the Steelers' 34-7 win over the 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, Spaeth also played in Super Bowl XLIII[5] where he had one catch for six yards.[6] The Steelers went on to win 27-23 over the Arizona Cardinals.[7] In 2009, Spaeth had 5 catches for 25 yards and 1 touchdown.[8]

At the end of the 2010 season, Spaeth and the Steelers appeared in Super Bowl XLV against the Green Bay Packers. He had one reception for nine yards in the 31–25 loss.[9]

Chicago Bears

As an unrestricted free agent following the 2010 season, Spaeth signed with the Chicago Bears, who then traded away tight end Greg Olsen.[10][11] Spaeth scored his first touchdown catch with the Bears in Week 1 against the Atlanta Falcons on a one-yard pass from Jay Cutler.[12]

On March 13, 2013, Spaeth was released by the Bears,[13] being the last Bear to wear number 89, which was retired on December 8, 2013, in honor of tight end and Super Bowl XX winning head coach Mike Ditka.

Pittsburgh Steelers (second stint)

On March 15, 2013, Spaeth re-signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers.[14]

On November 2, 2014, he caught Ben Roethlisberger's record-breaking 12th touchdown in two games.[15]

On March 9, 2015, it was announced that the Steelers had signed Spaeth to a two-year contract extension.[16]

On July 21, 2016, the Steelers released Spaeth due to a failed physical.[17]

NFL career statistics
YearTeamGPRecYdsAvgLngTD
2007PIT 145346.813T3
2008PIT 16171368.0130
2009PIT 165255.091
2010PIT 149808.9131
2011CHI 157507.1132
2012CHI 166284.713T1
2013PIT 411111.011T1
2014PIT 1534615.333T1
2015PIT 132105.060
Career123554207.633T10

References
  1. "Roster". Chicago Bears. Retrieved August 1, 2012.
  2. "NFL Combine Results 2007". Mynfldraft.com. Retrieved August 1, 2012.
  3. "PITTSBURGH STEELERS, Heath Miller, TIGHT ENDS 40 YARD DASH TIMES". 40-yard-dash-times.com. Retrieved August 1, 2012.
  4. "2007 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
  5. "Super Bowl XLIII Rosters & Coaching Staffs". Hoffco-inc.com. April 1, 1999. Retrieved August 1, 2012.
  6. "Super Bowl XLIII | Steelers 27 Cardinals 23 Statistics & Scoring". iHaveNet.com. February 6, 2011. Retrieved August 1, 2012.
  7. "NFL Game Center: Pittsburgh Steelers at Arizona Cardinals - 2008 Super Bowl". Nfl.com. Retrieved August 1, 2012.
  8. "Matt Spaeth: Career Stats at". Nfl.com. November 24, 1983. Retrieved August 1, 2012.
  9. "Super Bowl XLV - Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Green Bay Packers - February 6th, 2011". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 15, 2017.
  10. "Bears sign Matt Spaeth, put Greg Olsen on block". CBSSports.com. Retrieved August 1, 2012.
  11. "Acquisition Tracker". Pro Football Talk. July 28, 2011. Retrieved July 29, 2011.
  12. Hamnik, Al (September 11, 2011). "Bears' Spaeth keeps it in the family with first TD catch". Nwitimes.com. Retrieved August 1, 2012.
  13. McClure, Vaughn (March 13, 2013). "Bears cut Davis, Spaeth; Toeaina set to be released". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved March 13, 2013.
  14. Wilkening, Mike (March 15, 2013). "Steelers bring back Matt Spaeth". Profootballtalk.com. Retrieved March 16, 2013.
  15. "Ravens vs. Steelers: Ben throws 6th TD to Spaeth". Steelers.com. November 2, 2014. Retrieved November 3, 2014.
  16. "Spaeth agrees to terms with Steelers". Steelers.com. March 9, 2015. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  17. "Spaeth released; Dixon added at TE". Steelers.com. July 21, 2016. Retrieved July 21, 2016.
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