Matt Leo
{{Short description|Australian player of American football (born 1992)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2022}}
{{Use Australian English|date=February 2022}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Matt Leo
| image_size =
| alt =
| current_team = Philadelphia Eagles
| number =
| position = Player development assistant
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1992|5|8|df=y}}
| birth_place = Adelaide, South Australia
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 7
| weight_lb = 280
| high_school = St Michael’s College (Adelaide)
| college = Iowa State
| undraftedyear = 2020
| cfldraftyear = 2021G
| cfldraftround = 4
| cfldraftpick = 35
| pastteams =
- Philadelphia Eagles ({{NFL Year|2020}}–{{NFL Year|2022}})*
| pastcoaching =
- Philadelphia Eagles ({{NFL Year|2023}})
Defensive / football operations assistant - Philadelphia Eagles ({{NFL Year|2024}}–present)
Player development assistant
| status =
| pfr = LeoxMa00
}}
Matthew Leo{{cite web|url=http://www.espn.com/college-sports/football/recruiting/player/_/id/222429/matthew-leo|title=Matthew Leo|website=ESPN.com|access-date=14 February 2022}} (born 8 May 1992) is an Australian former American football defensive end and coach who is a player development assistant for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Iowa State Cyclones and spent three seasons with the Eagles as a player, joining them through the International Player Pathway Program (IPPP).
Early life and education
Matthew Leo was born on 8 May 1992 in Adelaide, South Australia,{{Cite web|url=https://www.pennlive.com/philadelphiaeagles/2020/04/how-friday-night-lights-helped-pave-the-way-for-matt-leo-to-join-the-philadelphia-eagles.html|title=How 'Friday Night Lights' helped pave the way for Matt Leo to join the Philadelphia Eagles|date=30 April 2020|website=pennlive}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/L/LeoxMa00.htm|title=Matt Leo Stats|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com}} and raised in the suburb of Semaphore. He played Australian rules football for St Michael's College, Adelaide, in year 10.[https://media.eagles.1rmg.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/18092000/Leo-Matt-2021.pdf Matt Leo Eagles Profile] However his passion was rugby league and he played for a club in Adelaide.[https://wwos.nine.com.au/news/nfl-matt-leo-international-player-pathway-program-follows-valentine-holmes/42762b87-a7e3-49ec-8999-1da78df59b29 Adelaide rugby league tragic becomes next Aussie in NFL Pathway Program following Jordan Mailata, Valentine Holmes] by Melanie Dinjaski for Nine.com.au 6 February 2020 Matt is of Rotuman descent from his paternal side.
He worked as a plumber before playing American football professionally.{{Cite web|url=https://insidetheiggles.com/2020/05/16/philadelphia-eagles-matt-leo-australian-players-team/|title=Matt Leo joins surprisingly long line of Philadelphia Eagles from Australia|date=16 May 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.inquirer.com/eagles/matt-leo-australia-nfl-eagles-iowa-state-international-pathway-program-20200506.html|title=He's gone from Australian plumber's apprentice to Eagles signee, but Matt Leo is just getting started|first=Les|last=Bowen|website=www.inquirer.com|date=6 May 2020 }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/from-plumbing-to-clogging-gaps-the-incredible-story-of-new-eagles-de-matt-leo|title=From plumbing to clogging gaps, the incredible story of new Eagles DE Matt Leo|website=www.philadelphiaeagles.com}} He went to college at Arizona Western College{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com.au/american-football/story/_/id/29148189/from-smoko-big-smoke-former-plumber-matt-leo-lands-philly|title=From smoko to the big smoke: Matt Leo lands in Philly|date=8 May 2020|website=ESPN.com}} before going to Iowa State, making his debut at the age of 26.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sportingnews.com/au/nfl/news/matt-leo-philadelphia-eagles-plumber-remember-the-name-podcast-nfl/1in3fn8smxahe1axobu9f2of9c|title=How Matt Leo went from a plumber's apprentice to an NFL contract|website=www.sportingnews.com|date=14 August 2021 }} He was a medical redshirt in 2017.{{Cite news|url=https://www.si.com/nfl/eagles/news/matt-leo-friday-night-lights-dream-reaches-eagles|title=Matt Leo Friday Night Lights Dream Reaches Eagles|first=John|last=McMullen|website=Sports Illustrated Philadelphia Eagles News, Analysis and More}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/sports/college/iowa-state/football/2017/01/21/matt-leo-iowa-state-football-plumber-playmaker-australia-matt-campbell/96768384/|title=From plumber to promising playmaker: The story of Iowa State's Matt Leo|first=Tommy|last=Birch|website=Des Moines Register}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.bleedinggreennation.com/2020/6/29/21306633/eagles-rookie-profile-matt-leo-philadelphia-iowa-state-international-australia-defensive-end-videos|title=Eagles Rookie Profile: 5 things to know about Matt Leo|first=Brandon Lee|last=Gowton|date=29 June 2020|website=Bleeding Green Nation}} He had 33 tackles and 3 sacks in his college football career.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thegazette.com/iowa-state-cyclones/matt-leo-shows-just-how-much-hes-learned-in-senior-season-at-iowa-state/|title=Matt Leo shows just how much he's learned in senior season at Iowa State|website=www.thegazette.com}} He was named first-team Academic All-Big 12 in 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/blog/philadelphia-eagles/post/_/id/29753/matt-leos-improbable-journey-from-aussie-plumber-to-the-nfl|title=Matt Leo's improbable journey from Aussie plumber to the NFL|date=7 June 2020|website=ESPN.com}}
Professional career
On 27 April 2020, Leo was allocated to the Philadelphia Eagles as part of the International Player Pathway Program.{{Cite web|url=https://www.delcotimes.com/sports/leo-chasing-his-dream-role-with-the-eagles/article_7a7a2ed0-8b30-11ea-b43d-4b59082f9dc1.html|title=Leo chasing his dream role with the Eagles|first=Bob|last=Grotz|website=The Delaware County Daily Times|date=30 April 2020 }}{{Cite web|url=https://pressofatlanticcity.com/sports/national/eagles-australian-connection-gets-stronger-with-matt-leo/article_dc6c05eb-4be9-5dfa-b560-473a874f770d.html|title=Eagles' Australian connection gets stronger with Matt Leo|first=Nick Fierro The Morning|last=Call|website=Press of Atlantic City|date=7 May 2020 }}{{Cite web|url=https://6abc.com/6143678/|title=Philadelphia Eagles sign rookie defensive end Matt Leo, a former plumber from Australia|first=Jamie|last=Apody|date=1 May 2020|website=6abc Philadelphia}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcsports.com/philadelphia/eagles/australian-de-matt-leo-can-thank-friday-night-lights-starting-his-football-journey|title=Australian DE Matt Leo can thank Friday Night Lights for starting his football journey|website=RSN|date=2 May 2020 }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.americanfootballinternational.com/former-plumber-australian-matt-leo-headed-to-the-philadelphia-eagles/|title=From plumbing to the Philadelphia Eagles: The remarkable journey of Australian DE Matt Leo|date=29 April 2020|website=American Football International}} He was waived during final roster cuts on 4 September 2020,{{cite news |author=McPherson, Chris |title=Eagles make five more roster moves |url=https://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/eagles-make-five-more-roster-moves |website=PhiladelphiaEagles.com |date=4 September 2020 |access-date=5 May 2021}} and signed to the practice squad under an international player exemption two days later.{{cite news |author=McPherson, Chris |title=Eagles announce practice squad that includes QB Josh McCown |url=https://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/eagles-announce-practice-squad-that-includes-qb-josh-mccown |website=PhiladelphiaEagles.com |date=6 September 2020 |access-date=5 May 2021}}{{Cite web|url=https://wwos.nine.com.au/news/nfl-matt-leo-former-plumber-turned-defensive-end-winning-over-philadelphia-eagles/a25d288b-2010-4c18-b2f7-dc63e1c99c56|title=Aussie NFL rookie's unusual team bonding|website=wwos.nine.com.au|date=16 September 2020 }} He signed a reserve/future contract with the team after the season on 4 January 2021.{{cite news |author=Erby, Glenn |title=Philadelphia Eagles sign 9 players to reserve/future contracts |url=https://theeagleswire.usatoday.com/2021/01/04/philadelphia-eagles-roster-news-9-players-reserve-future-contracts/ |website=USAToday.com |date=4 January 2021 |access-date=5 May 2021}}
Leo was selected by the Edmonton Elks in the fourth round (35th overall) of the 2021 CFL Global Draft in April 2021.{{Cite web|title=2021 Global Draft Tracker|url=https://www.cfl.ca/2021-global-draft-tracker/|access-date=30 April 2021|website=CFL.ca|language=en}} On 4 May 2021, he was given an NFL roster exemption as an international player for a second season.{{cite news |title=Four Players Added to 2021 Rosters Through International Player Pathway Program |url=https://operations.nfl.com/updates/the-players/four-players-added-to-2021-rosters-through-international-player-pathway-program/ |website=NFL.com |date=4 May 2021 |access-date=5 May 2021}}
On 31 August 2021, Leo was waived by the Eagles and re-signed to the practice squad the next day.{{cite web|title=Eagles announce initial 53-man roster|url=https://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/eagles-announce-initial-53-man-roster-2021|author=McPherson, Chris|website=PhiladelphiaEagles.com|date=August 31, 2021}}{{cite web|title=Eagles agree to terms with 15 players to join the practice squad|url=https://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/eagles-agree-to-terms-2021-practice-squad|website=PhiladelphiaEagles.com|date=September 1, 2021}} He signed a reserve/future contract with the Eagles on 18 January 2022.{{cite web|title=Eagles sign 11 players to Reserve/Futures contracts|url=https://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/eagles-sign-11-players-to-reserve-futures-contracts|author=McPherson, Chris|website=PhiladelphiaEagles.com|date=January 18, 2022}}
On 30 August 2022, Leo was waived by the Eagles and signed to the practice squad the next day.{{cite web|title=Eagles announce initial 53-man roster|url=https://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/eagles-announce-initial-53-man-roster-202|author=McPherson, Chris|website=PhiladelphiaEagles.com|date=August 30, 2022}}{{Dead link|date=June 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{cite web|title=Eagles sign 15 players to the practice squad|url=https://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/eagles-sign-15-players-to-the-practice-squad|author=McPherson, Chris|website=PhiladelphiaEagles.com|date=August 31, 2022}} On 15 February 2023, Leo signed a reserve/future contract with the Eagles.{{Cite web|title=Eagles sign 9 players to Reserve/Futures deals|url=https://theeagleswire.usatoday.com/lists/philadelphia-eagles-nfl-free-agency-reserve-futures-deals-devon-allen/|access-date=January 4, 2024|website=theeagleswire.usatoday.com|date=15 February 2023 |language=en}}
Post-playing career
On 25 July 2023, Leo announced his retirement from the NFL.{{cite web|title=Eagles' 31-year-old defensive end project decides to retire|url=https://www.nbcsportsphiladelphia.com/nfl/philadelphia-eagles/eagles-defensive-end-matt-leo-decides-retire/529825/|work=NBC Sports|date=July 25, 2023}} Soon after, he was hired as a defensive and football operations assistant on the coaching staff.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.si.com/nfl/eagles/news/philadelphia-eagles-hire-matt-leo-coaching-staff-nick-sirianni-training-camp-sean-desai|magazine=Sports Illustrated|title=Eagles Hire Newly-Retired DE To Coaching Staff|author=Hare, Jacob|date=August 7, 2023}} On 9 June 2024, Leo was promoted to the role of player development assistant.{{Cite web|title=Eagles Announce Numerous Updates To Front Office|url=https://www.profootballrumors.com/2024/06/eagles-announce-numerous-updates-to-front-office|access-date=June 11, 2024|website=profootballrumors.com|date=9 June 2024 |language=en}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SiyV8CVMOn0 Matt Leo Discusses His Journey from Australia to the NFL | Eagles Press Conference]
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZjzxJpp3d8 From Plumbing to the NFL: The Matt Leo Story | NFL Undiscovered – YouTube]
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJxrZ5IOxlk Matt Leo Talks Fulfilling His Dream of Being in the NFL | Eagles One-On-One – YouTube]
- [https://cyclones.com/sports/football/roster/matt-leo/10279 Iowa State bio]
- [https://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/team/players-roster/matt-leo-x8069/ Philadelphia Eagles bio]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Leo, Matt}}
Category:Australian emigrants to the United States
Category:Australian players of American football
Category:American football defensive ends
Category:Iowa State Cyclones football players
Category:International Player Pathway participants
Category:Philadelphia Eagles players
Category:Philadelphia Eagles coaches
Category:Arizona Western Matadors football players
Category:Australian expatriate sportspeople in the United States
Category:Expatriate players of American football
Category:Sportsmen from South Australia