Matt Cassel is a former NFL quarterback who played with seven teams in his NFL career, most notably the New England Patriots, Kansas City Chiefs, Minnesota Vikings and Dallas Cowboys.
He rose to prominence in 2008 after entering the opening game for an injured Tom Brady. He led the Patriots to an 11-5 record and became the first quarterback in NFL history with 10 wins, 325 completions, a 63% completion mark, 3,600 passing yards, 20 touchdown passes, 11 or fewer interceptions, and 250 rushing yards in a single season.
Cassel was traded to the Chiefs following that season and guided them to their first divisional title in five years in 2010. He also made the Pro Bowl as an alternate—coincidentally replacing an injured Brady.
A seventh-round draft pick out of USC, he spent his entire career as a backup to quarterbacks Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart – both Heisman Trophy winners. His only start was at H-back, and he finished his career at Southern California completing a mere 20 of 33 pass attempts over four years. In spite of that limited playing time, Cassel was drafted ahead of several more-accomplished college quarterbacks.
A starter in the NFL 81 times, Cassel finished his NFL career with 17,508 yards, 1,578 completions on 2,683 attempts (58.8 percent) and 104 touchdowns.
A native of Los Angeles, Cassel graduated from Chatsworth Charter High School, where he was a multisport star (football, basketball, baseball). As a senior, he was ranked among the top quarterbacks in the country, but also had early success in baseball. He was the starting first baseman of the 2014 Northridge team that made the Little League World Series. Two of Cassel’s siblings, Jack and Justin, were professional pitchers, with Jack having a brief stint in the majors.
Cassel is married and lives in Missouri. He is also an analyst for NBC Sports Boston.
