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Matt Leo
Philadelphia Eagles
Position:Player development assistant
Personal information
Born: (1992-05-08) 8 May 1992 (age 32)
Adelaide, South Australia
Height:6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
Weight:280 lb (127 kg)
Career information
High school:St Michael’s College
College:Iowa State
CFL draft:2021G / round: 4 / pick: 35
Undrafted:2020
Career history
As a player:
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
As a coach:
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Matthew Leo[1] (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 at Iowa State and spent three seasons with the Eagles as a player, joining them through the International Player Pathway Program (IPPP).

Early life and education

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Matthew Leo was born on 8 May 1992 in Adelaide, South Australia,[2][3] and raised in the suburb of Semaphore. He played Australian rules football for St Michael's College, Adelaide, in year 10.[4] However his passion was rugby league and he played for a club in Adelaide.[5] Matt is of Rotuman descent from his paternal side.

He worked as a plumber before playing American football professionally.[6][7][8] He went to college at Arizona Western College[9] before going to Iowa State, making his debut at the age of 26.[10][8] He was a medical redshirt in 2017.[11][12][13] He had 33 tackles and 3 sacks in his college football career.[14][8] He was named first-team Academic All-Big 12 in 2019.[15]

Professional career

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On 27 April 2020, Leo was allocated to the Philadelphia Eagles as part of the International Player Pathway Program.[16][17][18][19][20] He was waived during final roster cuts on 4 September 2020,[21] and signed to the practice squad under an international player exemption two days later.[22][23] He signed a reserve/future contract with the team after the season on 4 January 2021.[24]

Leo was selected by the Edmonton Elks in the fourth round (35th overall) of the 2021 CFL Global Draft in April 2021.[25] On 4 May 2021, he was given an NFL roster exemption as an international player for a second season.[26]

On 31 August 2021, Leo was waived by the Eagles and re-signed to the practice squad the next day.[27][28] He signed a reserve/future contract with the Eagles on 18 January 2022.[29]

On 30 August 2022, Leo was waived by the Eagles and signed to the practice squad the next day.[30][31] On 15 February 2023, Leo signed a reserve/future contract with the Eagles.[32]

Post-playing career

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On 25 July 2023, Leo announced his retirement from the NFL.[33] Soon after, he was hired as a defensive and football operations assistant on the coaching staff.[34] On 9 June 2024, Leo was promoted to the role of player development assistant.[35]

References

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  1. ^ "Matthew Leo". ESPN.com. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
  2. ^ "How 'Friday Night Lights' helped pave the way for Matt Leo to join the Philadelphia Eagles". pennlive. 30 April 2020.
  3. ^ "Matt Leo Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  4. ^ Matt Leo Eagles Profile
  5. ^ 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
  6. ^ "Matt Leo joins surprisingly long line of Philadelphia Eagles from Australia". 16 May 2020.
  7. ^ Bowen, Les (6 May 2020). "He's gone from Australian plumber's apprentice to Eagles signee, but Matt Leo is just getting started". www.inquirer.com.
  8. ^ a b c "From plumbing to clogging gaps, the incredible story of new Eagles DE Matt Leo". www.philadelphiaeagles.com.
  9. ^ "From smoko to the big smoke: Matt Leo lands in Philly". ESPN.com. 8 May 2020.
  10. ^ "How Matt Leo went from a plumber's apprentice to an NFL contract". www.sportingnews.com. 14 August 2021.
  11. ^ McMullen, John. "Matt Leo Friday Night Lights Dream Reaches Eagles". Sports Illustrated Philadelphia Eagles News, Analysis and More.
  12. ^ Birch, Tommy. "From plumber to promising playmaker: The story of Iowa State's Matt Leo". Des Moines Register.
  13. ^ Gowton, Brandon Lee (29 June 2020). "Eagles Rookie Profile: 5 things to know about Matt Leo". Bleeding Green Nation.
  14. ^ "Matt Leo shows just how much he's learned in senior season at Iowa State". www.thegazette.com.
  15. ^ "Matt Leo's improbable journey from Aussie plumber to the NFL". ESPN.com. 7 June 2020.
  16. ^ Grotz, Bob (30 April 2020). "Leo chasing his dream role with the Eagles". The Delaware County Daily Times.
  17. ^ Call, Nick Fierro The Morning (7 May 2020). "Eagles' Australian connection gets stronger with Matt Leo". Press of Atlantic City.
  18. ^ Apody, Jamie (1 May 2020). "Philadelphia Eagles sign rookie defensive end Matt Leo, a former plumber from Australia". 6abc Philadelphia.
  19. ^ "Australian DE Matt Leo can thank Friday Night Lights for starting his football journey". RSN. 2 May 2020.
  20. ^ "From plumbing to the Philadelphia Eagles: The remarkable journey of Australian DE Matt Leo". American Football International. 29 April 2020.
  21. ^ McPherson, Chris (4 September 2020). "Eagles make five more roster moves". PhiladelphiaEagles.com. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
  22. ^ McPherson, Chris (6 September 2020). "Eagles announce practice squad that includes QB Josh McCown". PhiladelphiaEagles.com. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
  23. ^ "Aussie NFL rookie's unusual team bonding". wwos.nine.com.au.
  24. ^ Erby, Glenn (4 January 2021). "Philadelphia Eagles sign 9 players to reserve/future contracts". USAToday.com. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
  25. ^ "2021 Global Draft Tracker". CFL.ca. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  26. ^ "Four Players Added to 2021 Rosters Through International Player Pathway Program". NFL.com. 4 May 2021. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
  27. ^ McPherson, Chris (31 August 2021). "Eagles announce initial 53-man roster". PhiladelphiaEagles.com.
  28. ^ "Eagles agree to terms with 15 players to join the practice squad". PhiladelphiaEagles.com. 1 September 2021.
  29. ^ McPherson, Chris (18 January 2022). "Eagles sign 11 players to Reserve/Futures contracts". PhiladelphiaEagles.com.
  30. ^ McPherson, Chris (30 August 2022). "Eagles announce initial 53-man roster". PhiladelphiaEagles.com.[permanent dead link]
  31. ^ McPherson, Chris (31 August 2022). "Eagles sign 15 players to the practice squad". PhiladelphiaEagles.com.
  32. ^ "Eagles sign 9 players to Reserve/Futures deals". theeagleswire.usatoday.com. 15 February 2023. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
  33. ^ "Eagles' 31-year-old defensive end project decides to retire". NBC Sports. 25 July 2023.
  34. ^ Hare, Jacob (7 August 2023). "Eagles Hire Newly-Retired DE To Coaching Staff". Sports Illustrated.
  35. ^ "Eagles Announce Numerous Updates To Front Office". profootballrumors.com. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
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