Bruce Matthews

Played football at Arcadia High and at USC; played in NFL for Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans; a first-year (inducted in the first year of eligibility) Hall of Famer of 2007.[34]

What is Bruce Matthews known for?

Born on August 8, 1961 in Raleigh, North Carolina, Bruce Rankin Matthews, known as Bruce Matthews, is an American football legend renowned for his versatility and durability on the football field. A proud alumnus of Arcadia High School in Arcadia, California, Matthews honed his skills at the University of Southern California (USC) and earned recognition as a consensus All-American.

Matthews entered the NFL in 1983 after being drafted in the first round (ninth pick) by the Houston Oilers. He stayed with the same franchise, which later became the Tennessee Titans, for the entirety of his 19-year career from 1983 to 2001. He showcased extraordinary flexibility, playing at every position on the offensive line and starting in 99 games as a left guard, 87 as a center, 67 as a right guard, 22 as a right tackle and 17 as a left tackle. He was also the long snapper on field goals, PATs, and punts. Matthews never missed a game due to injury and started in 293 NFL games, the third-most in NFL history, only behind quarterbacks Brett Favre and Tom Brady.

Throughout his illustrious career, Matthews earned numerous accolades. He was chosen for the Pro Bowl 14 times, tied for the second-most in NFL history, and was recognized as a first-team All-Pro nine times. His dedication and performances earned him a spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2007, the first year he became eligible. In honor of his significant contributions, his number 74 jersey was retired by the Titans.

Upon retiring as a player, Matthews didn't stay out of the game for long and served as an assistant coach for the Houston Texans and the Titans. He comes from the Matthews family known for its football talent, with his brother Clay Matthews Jr. and his sons Kevin Matthews and Jake Matthews being involved in the game at a high level.

For more in-depth information, career statistics, and extensive accomplishments, please visit his profile at NFL.com and at Pro Football Reference. His contribution to the game and his induction to the Hall of Fame could also be explored at Pro Football Hall of Fame.