Matt Cavanaugh
{{Short description|American football player and coach (born 1956)}}
{{for|the American actor|Matt Cavenaugh}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Matt Cavanaugh
| image = Matt Cavanaugh.jpg
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption = Cavanaugh in 2015
| current_team =
| number = 12, 6
| position = Quarterback
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1956|10|27|mf=y}}
| birth_place = Youngstown, Ohio, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 2
| weight_lbs = 212
| high_school = Chaney (Youngstown)
| college = Pittsburgh (1974–1977)
| draftyear = 1978
| draftround = 2
| draftpick = 50
| pastteams =
- New England Patriots ({{NFL Year|1978}}–{{NFL Year|1982}})
- San Francisco 49ers ({{NFL Year|1983}}–{{NFL Year|1985}})
- Philadelphia Eagles ({{NFL Year|1986}}–{{NFL Year|1989}})
- New York Giants ({{NFL Year|1990}}–{{NFL Year|1991}})
| pastcoaching =
- Pittsburgh (1992–1993)
Tight ends coach - Arizona Cardinals ({{nfly|1994}}–{{nfly|1995}})
Quarterbacks coach - San Francisco 49ers ({{nfly|1996}})
Quarterbacks coach - Chicago Bears ({{nfly|1997}}–{{nfly|1998}})
Offensive coordinator - Baltimore Ravens ({{nfly|1999}}–{{nfly|2004}})
Offensive coordinator - Pittsburgh (2005–2008)
Offensive coordinator - New York Jets ({{nfly|2009}}–{{nfly|2012}})
Quarterbacks coach - Chicago Bears ({{nfly|2013}}–{{nfly|2014}})
Quarterbacks coach - Washington Redskins ({{nfly|2015}}–{{nfly|2016}})
Quarterbacks coach - Washington Redskins ({{nfly|2017}}–{{nfly|2018}})
Offensive coordinator - Washington Redskins ({{nfly|2019}})
Senior offensive assistant - New York Jets ({{nfly|2021}})
Senior offensive assistant
| highlights =
;As player
- 2× Super Bowl champion (XIX, XXV)
- National champion (1976)
- First-team All-American (1977)
- First-team All-East (1977)
- Sugar Bowl MVP (1977)
;As coach
- Super Bowl champion (XXXV)
| statleague = NFL
| statvalue1 = 28–30
| statlabel2 = Passing yards
| statvalue2 = 4,332
| statlabel3 = Passer rating
| statvalue3 = 71.7
| statlabel4 = Completions
| statvalue4 = 305
| statlabel5 = Attempts
| statvalue5 = 579
| statlabel6 = Games played
| statvalue6 = 112
| regular_record =
| playoff_record =
| overall_record =
| pfr = CavaMa00
| pfrcoach = CavaMa0
}}
Matthew Andrew Cavanaugh (born October 27, 1956) is an American former professional football player and coach in the National Football League (NFL). He played as a quarterback, winning two Super Bowl titles. He played college football for the Pittsburgh Panthers.
After retiring from playing following the 1991 season, Cavanaugh worked as an offensive coach and offensive coordinator for teams including the San Francisco 49ers, Chicago Bears, Baltimore Ravens (where he earned a third ring as a coach), Washington Redskins (now the Washington Commanders), and New York Jets.
Early life
Cavanaugh was born in Youngstown, Ohio, on October 27, 1956. He attended Chaney High School, and played quarterback on its 1973 and 1974 city championship teams, as team captain his senior year (1974).{{Cite web |last=Keddie |first=Matt |title=Matt Cavanagh, Professional Football Researchers Association |url=https://profootballresearchers.com/biography/Cavanaugh_Matt.pdf |website=Profootballresearchers.com}} In 1988, he was inducted into the Chaney Athletic Hall of Fame.{{Cite web |title=Chaney Athletic Hall of Fame Members |url=https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/sportshub2-uploads-prod/files/sites/5780/2024/01/18105205/Chaney-HOF-members.pdf}}
College football
He went on to the University of Pittsburgh after graduating, and is considered one of the greatest quarterbacks in school history.{{Cite web |title=Matt Cavanaugh (2023) - Pitt Athletics Hall of Fame |url=https://pittsburghpanthers.com/honors/pitt-athletics-hall-of-fame/matt-cavanaugh/56 |access-date=2024-12-27 |website=Pitt Panthers #H2P |language=en}} He played under College Football Hall of Fame head coach Johnny Majors{{Cite web |title=Johnny Majors (1987) - Hall of Fame |url=https://footballfoundation.org/hof_search.aspx?hof=2286 |access-date=2024-12-27 |website=National Football Foundation |language=en}} (1974-1976) and head coach Jackie Sherrill (1977).{{Cite web |date=2019-06-03 |title=College Football Hall of Fame Candidate: Matt Cavanaugh |url=https://pittsburghpanthers.com/news/2019/6/3/college-football-hall-of-fame-candidate-matt-cavanaugh.aspx |access-date=2024-12-27 |website=Pitt Panthers #H2P |language=en}} In 1976, he was the starting quarterback for the undefeated Pittsburgh Panthers (he was on the same team with Heisman Trophy winner Tony Dorsett{{Cite web |title=Tony Dorsett College Stats, School, Draft, Gamelog, Splits |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/tony-dorsett-1.html |access-date=2024-12-27 |website=Sports Reference |language=en}}) and contributed to the team's National Championship 27–3 victory over Georgia in the Sugar Bowl. He scored the first touchdown in that game, and was on Sports Illustrated
Cavanaugh was first team All-American his senior year (1977), and seventh in the Heisman Trophy voting.{{Cite web |title=Matt Cavanaugh College Stats, School, Draft, Gamelog, Splits |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/matt-cavanaugh-1.html |access-date=2024-12-27 |website=Sports Reference |language=en}} He was also named MVP of the 1977 Gator Bowl, throwing for 387 yards and four touchdown passes in a 34–3 win over Clemson.
In 1977, Cavanaugh missed playing time with a broken wrist, but the team still finished 9–2–1, and was ranked number 7 in the country. He still threw for 1,844 yards with 15 touchdowns against six interceptions (including regular season and Gator Bowl statistics).{{Cite web |last=McCracken |first=Kylie |title=Legends of the Game - Pitt vs. Clemson: Matt Cavanaugh, Gator Bowl, Dec. 30, 1977 |url=https://pittsburghpanthers.com/sports/2017/6/17/blog-2016-11-legends-of-the-game-pitt-vs-clemson-matt-cavanaugh-gator-bowl-dec-30-1977-html.aspx |access-date=2024-12-27 |website=Pitt Panthers #H2P |language=en}} At that time, this was the second-most passing yards in Pittsburgh history for a season, only trailing quarterback Ken Lucas's 1,921 yards in 1965 (playing in 10 games that year).{{Cite web |title=Kenny Lucas College Stats, School, Draft, Gamelog, Splits |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/kenny-lucas-1.html |access-date=2024-12-27 |website=Sports Reference |language=en}} Cavanaugh’s 387 yards in the Gator Bowl was a Pitt single game record, and his 3,378 total passing yards for his career was second in school history.{{Cite web |title=University of Pittsburgh 1978 Football Media Guide (page 76) |url=https://documenting.pitt.edu/islandora/object/pitt%3A31735062135987/viewer#page/76/mode/2up}} As of 2024, Cavanaugh is no longer in the top 10 in these categories for Pitt.{{Cite web |title=Pitt Football 2024 Media Guide |url=https://pittsburghpanthers.com/documents/2024/7/22/2024_Pitt_Football_Media_Guide.pdf}}
In 2023, he was inducted into the Pitt Athletics Hall of Fame.
Professional football player
Cavanaugh was selected by the New England Patriots with the 50th overall pick in the second round of the 1978 NFL draft,{{Cite web |title=1978 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1978/draft.htm |access-date=2024-12-27 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} but spent much of his career as a backup. His professional playing career included stints with the Patriots (1979-82), San Francisco 49ers (1983-85), Philadelphia Eagles (1986-89), and New York Giants (1990-91).{{Cite web |title=Matt Cavanaugh Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/C/CavaMa00.htm |access-date=2024-12-27 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}
Cavanaugh was the backup quarterback in both the 1984 Super Bowl XIX and the 1990 Super Bowl XXV to Joe Montana and Jeff Hostetler, respectively. In the 1984 49ers' championship season as Montana's backup, he played in eight games, starting one;{{Cite web |title=1984 San Francisco 49ers Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/sfo/1984.htm |access-date=2024-12-27 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} and in the Giants' 1990 championship season he was a backup to Phil Simms and Jeff Hostetler, though he did not have any playing time.{{Cite web |title=1990 New York Giants Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/nyg/1990.htm |access-date=2024-12-27 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}
Simms had been injured during a December 1990 game against the Buffalo Bills on a hit by Leon Seals and was unable to play in the Super Bowl (also against the Bills), with Hostetler taking over. Cavanaugh warmed up during the Super Bowl as Hostetler suffered a number of blows from the Buffalo Bills pass rush (and a particularly hard hit from Seals), but did not come into the game despite Hostetler playing the first half in "'kind of a blur'".{{Cite news |last=Zimmerman |first=Paul |date=February 4, 1991 |title=Giants edge out Bills by one point in Super Bowl 25 |url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1991/02/04/high-and-mighty-in-one-of-the-best-played-super-bowls-in-xxv-years-the-new-york-giants-used-their-power-game-to-wear-down-the-buffalo-bills-who-fought-back-but-fell-one-point-short |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20241127191420/https://vault.si.com/vault/1991/02/04/high-and-mighty-in-one-of-the-best-played-super-bowls-in-xxv-years-the-new-york-giants-used-their-power-game-to-wear-down-the-buffalo-bills-who-fought-back-but-fell-one-point-short |archive-date=2024-11-27 |access-date=2024-12-27 |work=Sports Illustrated Vault {{!}} SI.com |language=en-us}}
Cavanaugh’s most prolific season came in 1981, when he started eight of 16 games for the Patriots. Over four years, he started 15 games for the Patriots, backing up an injured Steve Grogan,{{Cite web |title=Steve Grogan Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/G/GrogSt00.htm |access-date=2024-12-27 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} but in his final five years did not start any games; throwing only 21 passes during those years.
Cavanaugh retired as a professional player following the 1991 season, appearing in 112 games with 19 starts, completing 305 of 579 passes for 4,332 yards, 28 touchdowns, 30 interceptions and a 71.7 passer rating.{{cite web|last=Mayer|first=Larry|url=http://www.chicagobears.com/news/article-1/Cavanaugh-driven-by-will-to-win-Super-Bowl-/a50c7565-04ae-4807-aa2d-e2338587c722|title=Cavanaugh driven by will to win Super Bowl|publisher=Chicago Bears|date=July 9, 2013|access-date=July 11, 2013|archive-date=July 13, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130713075720/http://www.chicagobears.com/news/article-1/Cavanaugh-driven-by-will-to-win-Super-Bowl-/a50c7565-04ae-4807-aa2d-e2338587c722|url-status=dead}}
Coaching career
Following his retirement, Cavanaugh because tight ends coach at Pitt for two years (1992-93), under coaches Paul Hackett and Sal Sunseri in 1992,{{Cite web |title=1992 Pitt Panthers Roster |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/pittsburgh/1992-roster.html |access-date=2024-12-27 |website=Sports Reference |language=en}} and his old coach Johnny Majors in 1993.{{Cite web |title=1993 Pitt Panthers Roster |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/pittsburgh/1993-roster.html |access-date=2024-12-27 |website=Sports Reference |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Matt Cavanaugh Record, Statistics, and Category Ranks |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/coaches/CavaMa0.htm |access-date=2024-12-27 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} He also served as Pitt's chief recruiter.{{citation needed|date=December 2024}} Cavanaugh next began coaching in professional football. He was a quarterbacks coach with the Arizona Cardinals (1994–1995) under Buddy Ryan, who had coached Cavanaugh as a player in Philadelphia;{{Cite web |title=Buddy Ryan Record, Statistics, and Category Ranks |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/coaches/RyanBu0.htm |access-date=2024-12-27 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} quarterbacks coach with the 49ers (1996) under George Seifert;{{Cite web |title=1996 San Francisco 49ers Roster & Players |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/sfo/1996_roster.htm |access-date=2024-12-27 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} offensive coordinator for the Chicago Bears (1997–1998) under Dave Wannstedt;{{Cite web |title=Dave Wannstedt Record, Statistics, and Category Ranks |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/coaches/WannDa0.htm |access-date=2024-12-27 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} and offensive coordinator with the Baltimore Ravens (1999–2004) under Brian Billick,{{Cite web |title=Brian Billick Record, Statistics, and Category Ranks |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/coaches/BillBr0.htm |access-date=2024-12-27 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} winning Super Bowl XXXV with the Ravens in 2000.
Cavanaugh served as offensive coordinator under Wannstedt again, for his old college team the University of Pittsburgh Panthers, until 2008, when he accepted a position as an assistant coach and quarterbacks coach with the New York Jets, under Rex Ryan.{{Cite web |title=Rex Ryan Record, Statistics, and Category Ranks |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/coaches/RyanRe0.htm |access-date=2024-12-27 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} He would remain with the Jets until 2012.
On January 18, 2013, it was announced that Bears head coach Marc Trestman hired Cavanaugh as the quarterbacks coach, replacing Jeremy Bates.{{cite web|last=Mayer|first=Larry|url=http://www.chicagobears.com/news/article-1/Bears-hire-assistant-coaches-Cavanaugh-Peete/34110323-a49d-4c99-99dc-2853d3a3a678|title=Bears hire assistant coaches Cavanaugh, Peete|publisher=Chicago Bears|date=January 1, 2013|access-date=January 18, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130121032723/http://www.chicagobears.com/news/article-1/Bears-hire-assistant-coaches-Cavanaugh-Peete/34110323-a49d-4c99-99dc-2853d3a3a678|archive-date=January 21, 2013|url-status=dead}}
On January 28, 2015, Cavanaugh became Washington's quarterbacks coach. On January 23, 2017, Cavanaugh was promoted to Washington's offensive coordinator, replacing Sean McVay, who became the head coach of the Los Angeles Rams.{{Cite web |title=Redskins Promote Matt Cavanaugh To Offensive Coordinator |url=https://www.commanders.com/news/redskins-promote-matt-cavanaugh-to-offensive-coordinator-18486264 |access-date=2024-12-27 |website=www.commanders.com |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Sean McVay Record, Statistics, and Category Ranks |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/coaches/McVaSe0.htm |access-date=2024-12-27 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} On January 29, 2019, Cavanaugh was demoted to Washington's senior offensive assistant, where he still had a number of responsibilities.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcsports.com/edge/football/nfl/player/12607/kevin-oconnell|title=Kevin O'Connell - Los Angeles Rams - NFL|website=www.nbcsports.com}}{{Cite web |title=Senior Offensive Assistant Matt Cavanaugh Has Fully Embraced His New, 'Big Picture' Role |url=https://www.commanders.com/news/senior-offensive-assistant-matt-cavanaugh-has-fully-embraced-his-new-big-picture |access-date=2024-12-27 |website=www.commanders.com |language=en-US}} He coached in Washington under Jay Gruden.{{Cite web |title=Jay Gruden Record, Statistics, and Category Ranks |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/coaches/GrudJa0.htm |access-date=2024-12-27 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}
On August 25, 2021, Cavanaugh was hired by the New York Jets as a senior offensive assistant to coach Robert Saleh.{{Cite web |last=Wells |first=MacGregor |date=2021-08-25 |title=Jets Hire Matt Cavanaugh As Senior Offensive Assistant |url=https://www.ganggreennation.com/2021/8/25/22641767/jets-hire-matt-cavanaugh-as-senior-offensive-assistant |access-date=2023-10-09 |website=Gang Green Nation |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Allen |first=Eric |last2=Greenberg |first2=Ethan |date=2021-08-25 |title=Training Camp Ends for a 'Ridiculously Young Team' |url=https://www.newyorkjets.com/news/jets-joint-practice-report-training-camp-ends-for-a-ridiculously-young-team |access-date=2025-06-07 |website=New York Jets}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.redskins.com/team/coaches-roster/matt-cavanaugh Washington Redskins bio] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190129010217/https://www.redskins.com/team/coaches-roster/matt-cavanaugh |date=January 29, 2019 }}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Cavanaugh, Matt}}
Category:American football quarterbacks
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Category:NFL offensive coordinators
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