Bruce Matthews (American football)
- Houston Oilers / Tennessee Oilers / Tennessee Titans (1983-2001)
Bruce Rankin Matthews ( born August 8, 1961 in Raleigh, North Carolina ) is a former American professional American football player at the position of the offensive guards, centers and tackles. He played from 1983 to 2001 for the Houston Oilers, Tennessee Oilers and Tennessee Titans in the National Football League ( NFL). He was elected to his 19 - year professional career, during which he missed a single game, 14 times in the Pro Bowl and is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, but never won the Super Bowl.
College
Matthews spent his college years at the University of Southern California, where he played all three offensive line positions. In his last year he was chosen selection to the All-American.
Professional time
1983 Matthews was selected in the NFL Draft as the ninth player in the first round by the Houston Oilers at the time. He played his entire professional career. He played all five positions on the offensive line (99 games at left guard, right guard as 67, 87 as a center, 22 as a right tackle and 17 at left tackle ). During this time he was instrumental, among other things to the success of Earl Campbell, Warren Moon, Eddie George and Steve McNair.
Matthews held with 292 starts the NFL record until it stopped Brett Favre 2010. Throughout his NFL career, he had to stop due to an injury not a game.
Overall, he was from 1987 until his retirement in late 2001, ten times he is holding the All-Pro team and called 14 times in a row in the Pro Bowl, a record together with Merlin Olsen. He has been awarded three times as offensive lineman of the year and was selected as the Guard in the NFL 1990s All- Decade Team. In 2007 he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. His jersey number, 74, is no longer available from the Tennessee Titans.
After the professional career
Since 2009, Matthews worked as an assistant coach with the Houston Texans.
Personal
Several family members of Matthews are also successful football player. His older brother Clay Matthews, Jr. also played for 19 years in the NFL for the Cleveland Browns and the Atlanta Falcons. Her father, William Clay Matthews, Sr. 49ers was active in the 50s several seasons for the San Francisco. Three of Bruce Matthews five sons play college football. He is also the uncle of William Clay Matthews III plays for the Green Bay Packers.