Matt Joyce (American football)
{{Short description|American football player (born 1972)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Matt Joyce
| number = 77, 73, 75
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1972|3|30}}
| birth_place = La Crosse, Wisconsin, U.S.
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 7
| weight_lb = 300
| high_school = New York Military Academy (NY)
| college = Richmond
| undraftedyear = 1994
| pastteams =
- Dallas Cowboys ({{NFL Year|1994}})*{{cite book |title=Lions, 2004 Media Guide |page=79 |url=https://archive.org/details/lions-2004-media-guide-detroit-c/page/78/mode/2up?view=theater |access-date=July 6, 2024}}
- Cincinnati Bengals (1994)*
- Seattle Seahawks ({{NFL Year|1995}})
- Arizona Cardinals ({{NFL Year|1996|2000}})
- →Scottish Claymores (1997)
- Detroit Lions ({{NFL Year|2001|2004}})
| highlights =
- All-Yankee (1993)
- Second-team All-Yankee (1992)
| statlabel1 = Games played
| statvalue1 = 122
| statlabel2 = Games started
| statvalue2 = 71
| statlabel3 = Fumble recoveries
| statvalue3 = 4
| pfr = JoycMa20
}}
Matt Joyce (born March 30, 1972) is an American former professional football guard and tackle in the National Football League for the Seattle Seahawks, Arizona Cardinals and Detroit Lions. He played college football at the University of Richmond.
Early life and college
Joyce attended New York Military Academy where he practiced football, basketball and track. He was an All-Conference defensive lineman.
He accepted a scholarship from the University of Richmond, where he was a three-year starter at defensive tackle.
Professional career
=Dallas Cowboys=
Joyce was not selected in the 1994 NFL draft and was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Dallas Cowboys, with the intention of converting him into an offensive lineman.
He was waived on August 28,{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=861&dat=19940829&id=GhlIAAAAIBAJ&sjid=_IAMAAAAIBAJ&pg=6102,708933|title=Coleman remains as Smith's understudy|publisher=The Victoria Advocate}} but after being claimed by the Cincinnati Bengals and not passing their physical,{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1755&dat=19940830&id=IrIcAAAAIBAJ&sjid=aXwEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3238,6829845|title=Bengals release Schroeder|publisher=Sarasota Herald-Tribune}} he was signed to the Cowboys practice squad.
=Seattle Seahawks=
On March 1, 1995, he signed as a free agent with the Seattle Seahawks and started the first 13 games at left guard.{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=860&dat=19950303&id=6l5UAAAAIBAJ&sjid=F48DAAAAIBAJ&pg=3592,360869|title=Seahawk look for free agents |publisher=Ellensburg Daily Record}} He was released on August 25, 1996.
=Arizona Cardinals=
On December 2, 1996, he signed as a free agent with the Arizona Cardinals. At the end of the season, he was assigned to the Scottish Claymores of the World League of American Football (WLAF).
The next year, he started the last 6 games at left guard, after missing the first 7 games with a sprained knee. In 1998, he was a backup and special teams player.
In 1999, he started 9 games at left tackle and the last 6 at left guard, after L. J. Shelton was moved into the starting lineup.{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=875&dat=20000222&id=ullIAAAAIBAJ&sjid=xE0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=6048,6225014|title=Today's Joyce re-signs with Cardinals |publisher=Today's News-Herald}} The next year, he started 13 games at left guard and was inactive 3 games with a back injury.
=Detroit Lions=
On April 26, 2001, he signed as a free agent with the Detroit Lions.{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1774&dat=20020315&id=ig8iAAAAIBAJ&sjid=2X8EAAAAIBAJ&pg=6575,4924449|title=Around the NFL|publisher=Sarasota Herald-Tribune}} He started 11 games at right tackle and one at left guard. The next year, he started 3 games at right tackle and 3 at left guard. In 2003, he started the last 3 games at left guard in place of an injured Eric Beverly
He was released on April 21, 2005, to make room for Kyle Kosier.{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=861&dat=20050422&id=0QhZAAAAIBAJ&sjid=J0YNAAAAIBAJ&pg=1875,5045644|title=Extra points|publisher=The Victoria Advocate}}
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Joyce, Matt}}
Category:Players of American football from La Crosse, Wisconsin
Category:American football offensive guards
Category:American football offensive tackles
Category:Richmond Spiders football players
Category:Seattle Seahawks players
Category:Arizona Cardinals players
Category:Detroit Lions players