Matt Hasselbeck

Matthew Michael Hasselbeck (born September 25, 1975) is an American former professional football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL).

Hasselbeck started all 16 games, leading Seattle to a 10–6 record for the first time since 1988 and a Wild Card berth.

He also was selected to the Pro Bowl.

He played for the Boston College Eagles football team from 1994 through 1997, including two years with his younger brother Tim.

Hasselbeck finished his college career as the starting quarterback (a position his brother Tim would later hold with the Eagles).

He graduated with a degree in marketing.

He played college football for the Boston College Eagles and was selected in the sixth round of the 1998 NFL Draft by the Green Bay Packers.

Hasselbeck was selected by the Green Bay Packers in the sixth round (187th overall) of the 1998 NFL Draft.

He joined the team's practice squad in 1998 and was the backup for starting quarterback Brett Favre for the 1999 and 2000 NFL seasons.

After a season on the practice squad and two seasons backing up Brett Favre, he was traded to the Seattle Seahawks in 2001, where he spent the majority of his career.

Hasselbeck joined former Packers head coach Mike Holmgren and the Seattle Seahawks on March 2, 2001.

However, after a strong finish in 2002, Hasselbeck entered 2003 as the unquestioned starter.

He also led Seattle to their first NFC West title since conference realignment in 2002.

The 2003 NFC Wild Card Game against the Green Bay Packers went into overtime where, at the overtime coin toss, Hasselbeck famously said "We want the ball and we're gonna score."

During the second overtime possession for the Seahawks, Hasselbeck threw an interception to Packers defensive back Al Harris which was returned 52 yards down the sideline for a touchdown.

It gave Green Bay a 33–27 overtime victory.

In 2004, Hasselbeck won the 2004 NFL Quarterback Challenge.

Hasselbeck led Seattle to six playoff appearances, including the franchise’s first Super Bowl appearance during the 2005 season.

He was selected to three Pro Bowls in his career.

Hasselbeck also played for the Tennessee Titans and Indianapolis Colts.

He is a former analyst for ESPN's Sunday NFL Countdown and Monday Night Countdown.

Hasselbeck is the son of Mary Beth "Betsy" (Rueve) and Don Hasselbeck, a former New England Patriots tight end.

Matt and his younger brothers Tim and Nathanael grew up in Norfolk, Massachusetts, and attended Xaverian Brothers High School in Westwood.

He was selected as an honorable mention All-American by USA Today as a high school senior.

Hasselbeck attended Boston College near his family's hometown.

In 2005, Hasselbeck had one of his most productive career performances, earning the highest passer rating in the NFC, and leading the Seahawks to the playoffs for the third consecutive year while clinching the NFC's top seed.

He led the Seahawks to Super Bowl XL, in which they lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers, and was the starting quarterback for the NFC in the 2006 Pro Bowl.

Hasselbeck led the Seahawks to a 4–1 record to start the 2006 season before being seriously injured on Week 7.

Minnesota linebacker E. J. Henderson rolled into Hasselbeck's right leg.

The result was a second degree MCL sprain, causing Hasselbeck to miss four games.

Hasselbeck contended that Henderson could have avoided injuring him.

Upon returning he subsequently broke fingers on his non-throwing hand, but continued to lead his team to a 9–7 record and the divisional round of the post-season.

The fourth-seeded Seahawks defeated the Dallas Cowboys 21–20 in the wild card round in Seattle, then lost to the top-seeded Chicago Bears in overtime, 27–24.

In 2007, Hasselbeck led his team to its fourth consecutive division title and fifth consecutive playoff appearance.

He had 3,966 passing yards, 28 touchdowns (both career highs), 62.6% completion percentage, and a 91.4 passer rating.

He threw for 229 yards in a 35–14 NFC wild card victory over the Washington Redskins.

The third-seeded Seahawks lost in the divisional round to the NFC's No. 2 seed Green Bay, losing 42–20 in the snow at Lambeau Field despite an early 14–0 lead.

Hasselbeck set career highs in yards, attempts, and touchdown passes in the 2007 season and was elected to his third Pro Bowl.

The Packers traded him, along with their first draft pick (17th overall), to the Seahawks for their first (10th overall) and third-round draft picks (72nd overall).

In his early years in Seattle, he battled for playing time with Trent Dilfer.