Matt McCants
UAB Blazers
Position:Director of player development
Personal information
Born: (1989-08-18) August 18, 1989 (age 34)
Mobile, Alabama, U.S.
Height:6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Weight:309 lb (140 kg)
Career information
High school:Williamson (Mobile, Alabama)
College:UAB
NFL draft:2012 / Round: 6 / Pick: 201
Career history
As a player:
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
As a coach:
  • UAB (2021)
    Volunteer assistant
  • UAB (2022)
    Strength and conditioning
As an administrator:
  • UAB (2023–present)
    Director of player development
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Games played:30
Games started:3
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Matthew Jamaal McCants (born August 18, 1989) is a former American football offensive tackle. He played college football for the University of Alabama at Birmingham, starting 42 games at left tackle.[1]

High school career

McCants attended Williamson High School and received honorable mention on the Mobile Press-Register All-Region team as a senior. He helped Williamson High School advance to the class 5A state playoffs. He started one season under head coach Bobby Parrish and only played football his senior year. He played tuba in the high school band before joining the football team prior to his senior year.

Professional career

New York Giants

McCants was drafted by the New York Giants in the sixth round, 201st overall, in the 2012 NFL Draft.[2][3] However, on August 31, 2012, before the beginning of the 2012 NFL season McCants was cut in final roster cuts and was signed to the practice squad, where he spent his entire rookie season.[4]

Before the start of the 2013 NFL season, on August 31, 2013, the New York Giants cut McCants in final roster cuts to get to the regular season roster limit of 53 players.[5]

Oakland Raiders

On September 2, 2013, McCants was signed to the Oakland Raiders' practice squad.[6] On September 7, 2013, he was promoted to the active roster.[7]

McCants was released by the Raiders on November 26, 2016.[8]

Cleveland Browns

McCants was claimed off waivers by the Browns on November 28, 2016.[9] McCants was waived by the Browns on December 9, 2016.[10]

Chicago Bears

McCants was claimed off waivers by the Bears on December 12, 2016.[11]

Cleveland Browns (second stint)

On March 27, 2017, McCants re-signed with the Cleveland Browns.[12] On August 23, 2017, McCants was placed on injured reserve after suffering an ankle injury in the team's second preseason game.[13] He was released on October 10, 2017.[14]

Chicago Bears (second stint)

On May 14, 2018, McCants signed with the Chicago Bears.[15] He was released on September 1, 2018.[16]

Birmingham Iron

McCants signed with the Birmingham Iron of the Alliance of American Football (AAF) on March 12, 2019, and remained with the team until the league ceased operations in April 2019.[17]

St. Louis BattleHawks

McCants was drafted in the first round, 3rd overall by the St. Louis BattleHawks of the 2020 XFL Draft in October 2019.[18] He had his contract terminated when the league suspended operations on April 10, 2020.[19]

Coaching career

UAB

McCants spent the 2021 spring season at Fairfield High School and then joined the UAB staff in the summer of 2021 as a volunteer coach. Last season in 2022, he was a strength and conditioning coach who focused on the offensive line.[20] In December 2022, McCants was named UAB's Director of Character Development by Head Coach Trent Dilfer, and enters his third season on staff.[20]

References

  1. ^ UAB offensive tackle Matt McCants taken by Giants in the sixth round
  2. ^ "2012 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 14, 2023.
  3. ^ "Giants draft OT Matt McCants in sixth round". NFL.com. April 28, 2012. Retrieved November 28, 2016.
  4. ^ Valentine, Ed (August 31, 2012). "New York Giants Announce 53-Man Roster". BigBlueView.com. Retrieved November 28, 2016.
  5. ^ "Giants Announce 53-Man Roster, Cut Quarterback David Carr". NewYork.CBSlocal.com. August 31, 2013. Retrieved November 28, 2016.
  6. ^ "Raiders Announce Practice Squad Additions". Raiders.com. September 2, 2013. Archived from the original on November 29, 2016. Retrieved November 28, 2016.
  7. ^ Gutierrez, Paul (September 7, 2013). "Raiders add McCants from practice squad". ESPN.com. Retrieved November 28, 2016.
  8. ^ "Raiders Announce Transactions". Raiders.com. November 26, 2016. Archived from the original on September 12, 2017.
  9. ^ "Browns claim OL Matt McCants; place OL John Greco on IR". ClevelandBrowns.com. November 28, 2016.
  10. ^ "Browns activate QB Robert Griffin III". ClevelandBrowns.com. Archived from the original on October 26, 2017. Retrieved December 9, 2016.
  11. ^ Mayer, Larry (December 12, 2016). "Bears add McCants, put Adams on IR". ChicagoBears.com. Archived from the original on December 20, 2016.
  12. ^ "Browns sign OL Matt McCants". ClevelandBrowns.com. March 27, 2017.
  13. ^ "Browns place LB Tank Carder, OL Matt McCants on IR; waive DB Justin Currie". ClevelandBrowns.com. August 23, 2017.
  14. ^ "Browns release OL Matt McCants". ClevelandBrowns.com. October 10, 2017.
  15. ^ Mayer, Larry (May 14, 2018). "Roster Moves: Bears ink five tryout players to contracts". ChicagoBears.com.
  16. ^ Mayer, Larry (September 1, 2018). "Bears announce 53-man roster". ChicagoBears.com.
  17. ^ Rothstein, Michael; Wickersham, Seth (June 13, 2019). "Inside the short, unhappy life of the Alliance of American Football". ESPN.com. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
  18. ^ Bender, Bill (October 21, 2019). "XFL Draft picks 2019: Complete results, rosters, players for new football league". Sporting News. Retrieved October 23, 2019.
  19. ^ Condotta, Bob (April 10, 2020). "XFL suspends operations, terminates all employees, but Jim Zorn says he has hopes league will continue". SeattleTimes.com. Retrieved July 17, 2020.
  20. ^ a b "Meet The Staff – Director of Character Development Matt McCants". UAB Athletics. Retrieved February 15, 2023.

External links

New York Giants 2012 NFL Draft selections
Categories