Matt Leinart's NFL Career: Highlights, Stats, And Retirement

Wondering who Matt Leinart is and what he did for the NFL?

Matt Leinart is a former American football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for seven seasons. He played college football for the University of Southern California (USC), where he won the Heisman Trophy in 2004 and was a member of the Trojans' 2004 BCS National Championship team.

Leinart was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals with the 10th overall pick in the 2006 NFL Draft. He started 16 games for the Cardinals in 2006 and was named the NFL Rookie of the Year. Leinart also played for the Houston Texans, Buffalo Bills, and Oakland Raiders during his NFL career.

| Personal details | Information ||---|---|| Full Name | Matthew Stephen Leinart || Born | May 11, 1983 || Birth Place | Santa Ana, California || Nationality | American || College | University of Southern California || NFL Draft | 2006, 10th overall || Position | Quarterback || Height | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) || Weight | 225 lb (102 kg) || Career highlights | 2004 Heisman Trophy winner, 2004 BCS National Champion, NFL Rookie of the Year (2006) |

Leinart retired from the NFL in 2012. He is currently a college football analyst for Fox Sports.

NFL Matt Leinart

Matt Leinart is a former American football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for seven seasons. He played college football for the University of Southern California (USC), where he won the Heisman Trophy in 2004 and was a member of the Trojans' 2004 BCS National Championship team.

• Quarterback
• Heisman Trophy winner
• NFL Rookie of the Year
• Arizona Cardinals
• Houston Texans
• Buffalo Bills
• Oakland Raiders

Leinart was a highly successful quarterback in college and the NFL. He was a two-time All-American and won the Heisman Trophy in 2004. He was also named the NFL Rookie of the Year in 2006. Leinart played for several teams during his NFL career, including the Arizona Cardinals, Houston Texans, Buffalo Bills, and Oakland Raiders.

1. Quarterback

A quarterback is the leader of an American football team's offense. They are responsible for calling the plays, handing off the ball to the running backs, and passing the ball to the receivers. Quarterbacks need to be intelligent, athletic, and have a strong arm. They also need to be able to make quick decisions and withstand the pressure of the game.

Matt Leinart was a successful quarterback in both college and the NFL. He was a two-time All-American and won the Heisman Trophy in 2004. He was also named the NFL Rookie of the Year in 2006. Leinart's success as a quarterback was due in part to his intelligence, athleticism, and strong arm. He was also a natural leader and was able to make quick decisions under pressure.

The quarterback position is one of the most important positions in football. A good quarterback can make a huge difference in the success of a team. Matt Leinart was one of the best quarterbacks of his generation, and he helped lead his teams to many victories.

2. Heisman Trophy Winner

The Heisman Trophy is the most prestigious award in college football. It is awarded annually to the player who is considered to be the most outstanding college football player in the United States. Matt Leinart won the Heisman Trophy in 2004, becoming the first USC player to win the award since Marcus Allen in 1981.

• Criteria for Winning the Heisman Trophy
  

  There are a number of criteria that are considered when selecting the Heisman Trophy winner. These criteria include:

  • Individual performance
  • Team success
  • Leadership
  • Character
• Matt Leinart's Heisman Trophy Season
  

  Leinart had an outstanding season in 2004. He led USC to a 13-0 record and a BCS National Championship. He also threw for 3,536 yards and 38 touchdowns. Leinart's performance was so impressive that he was a unanimous selection for the Heisman Trophy.

• Impact of Winning the Heisman Trophy
  

  Winning the Heisman Trophy is a major accomplishment for any college football player. It is a testament to Leinart's hard work and dedication. Winning the Heisman Trophy also helped to raise Leinart's profile and make him one of the most recognizable players in college football.

Matt Leinart's Heisman Trophy win is a significant accomplishment in his career. It is a testament to his talent and hard work. Winning the Heisman Trophy also helped to raise Leinart's profile and make him one of the most recognizable players in college football.

3. NFL Rookie of the Year

The NFL Rookie of the Year Award is given annually to the most outstanding rookie player in the National Football League (NFL). The award is voted on by a panel of sportswriters and broadcasters. Matt Leinart won the NFL Rookie of the Year Award in 2006.

• Criteria for Winning the NFL Rookie of the Year Award
  

  There are a number of criteria that are considered when selecting the NFL Rookie of the Year. These criteria include:

  • Individual performance
  • Team success
  • Leadership
  • Character
• Matt Leinart's Rookie Season
  

  Leinart had an outstanding rookie season in 2006. He led the Arizona Cardinals to a 5-11 record, which was a significant improvement over the team's 2-14 record the previous season. Leinart also threw for 2,547 yards and 11 touchdowns. His performance was so impressive that he was named the NFL Rookie of the Year.

• Impact of Winning the NFL Rookie of the Year Award
  

  Winning the NFL Rookie of the Year Award is a major accomplishment for any player. It is a testament to Leinart's hard work and dedication. Winning the award also helped to raise Leinart's profile and make him one of the most recognizable players in the NFL.

Matt Leinart's NFL Rookie of the Year Award is a significant accomplishment in his career. It is a testament to his talent and hard work. Winning the award also helped to raise Leinart's profile and make him one of the most recognizable players in the NFL.

4. Arizona Cardinals

Matt Leinart's NFL career began with the Arizona Cardinals. He was drafted by the Cardinals with the 10th overall pick in the 2006 NFL Draft. Leinart started 16 games for the Cardinals in 2006 and was named the NFL Rookie of the Year. He also led the Cardinals to a 5-11 record, which was a significant improvement over the team's 2-14 record the previous season.

Leinart's success as a rookie was due in part to the support of his teammates and coaches. He also benefited from the Cardinals' strong running game, led by Edgerrin James. Leinart's success helped to raise the profile of the Cardinals and make them a more competitive team.

Leinart played for the Cardinals for four seasons. He was the team's starting quarterback for three of those seasons. Leinart's best season with the Cardinals came in 2008, when he led the team to an 8-8 record. He also threw for 3,206 yards and 18 touchdowns that season.

Leinart was traded to the Houston Texans in 2010. He played for the Texans for two seasons before being released in 2012. Leinart retired from the NFL in 2012.

The Arizona Cardinals are an important part of Matt Leinart's NFL career. He played for the Cardinals for four seasons and was the team's starting quarterback for three of those seasons. Leinart's success with the Cardinals helped to raise the profile of the team and make them a more competitive team.

5. Houston Texans

The Houston Texans are a professional American football team based in Houston, Texas. They are members of the South division of the American Football Conference (AFC) in the National Football League (NFL). The Texans began play in 2002 as an expansion team, and their home games are played at NRG Stadium. The team's name is derived from the state of Texas, which is nicknamed the "Lone Star State".

• Matt Leinart's Tenure with the Texans
  

  Matt Leinart signed with the Houston Texans in 2010 after being released by the Arizona Cardinals. He served as the backup quarterback for two seasons, behind Matt Schaub. Leinart started two games for the Texans in 2010, both of which the Texans lost. He was released by the Texans in 2012.

• Leinart's Role on the Texans
  

  Leinart's role on the Texans was primarily as a backup quarterback. He was not expected to challenge Schaub for the starting job. Leinart's main contribution to the Texans was as a mentor to Schaub and the other young quarterbacks on the team.

• Leinart's Impact on the Texans
  

  Leinart's impact on the Texans was limited. He did not play much during his two seasons with the team. However, Leinart was a respected veteran presence in the locker room and was a valuable resource for the younger quarterbacks on the team.

Overall, Matt Leinart's time with the Houston Texans was not particularly successful. He did not play much and did not make a significant impact on the team. However, Leinart was a respected veteran presence in the locker room and was a valuable resource for the younger quarterbacks on the team.

6. Buffalo Bills

Matt Leinart's connection to the Buffalo Bills is relatively minor. He signed a one-year contract with the Bills in 2013, but he was released before the start of the regular season.

Leinart's signing with the Bills was seen as a low-risk move for the team. He was a veteran quarterback with starting experience, but he was also coming off a disappointing season with the Arizona Cardinals. The Bills were hoping that Leinart could provide some competition for starting quarterback EJ Manuel, but he was ultimately unable to do so.

Leinart's release from the Bills was not a surprise. He had not played well in the preseason, and the Bills were confident in their other quarterbacks. Leinart's release allowed the Bills to move on and focus on the future.

Overall, Matt Leinart's connection to the Buffalo Bills was brief and uneventful. He signed a one-year contract with the team, but he was released before the start of the regular season. Leinart's release was not a surprise, and the Bills were able to move on and focus on the future.

7. Oakland Raiders

Matt Leinart's connection to the Oakland Raiders is brief but notable. He signed a two-year contract with the Raiders in 2013, but he was released before the start of the 2014 season.

• Backup Quarterback
  

  Leinart was signed by the Raiders to be the backup quarterback behind Terrelle Pryor. He was not expected to challenge Pryor for the starting job, but he was seen as a valuable addition to the team due to his experience and leadership.

• Preseason Performance
  

  Leinart played well in the preseason, completing 60% of his passes for 2 touchdowns and no interceptions. He also led the Raiders to a 2-1 record in the preseason.

• Release
  

  Despite his strong preseason performance, Leinart was released by the Raiders before the start of the regular season. The Raiders decided to keep only two quarterbacks on their roster, and they chose Pryor and Matt McGloin over Leinart.

Overall, Matt Leinart's connection to the Oakland Raiders was brief but notable. He signed a two-year contract with the team, played well in the preseason, but was released before the start of the regular season. Leinart's release was not a surprise, as the Raiders decided to keep only two quarterbacks on their roster.

FAQs on NFL Matt Leinart

This section addresses common questions about NFL player Matt Leinart, providing concise and informative answers.

Question 1: What is Matt Leinart's NFL career highlight?

Matt Leinart's most notable NFL achievement was winning the Rookie of the Year award in 2006 while playing for the Arizona Cardinals. This accolade recognized his exceptional performance during his first season in the league.

Question 2: Which college did Matt Leinart attend?

Leinart played college football for the University of Southern California (USC), where he achieved significant success. During his time at USC, he won the prestigious Heisman Trophy in 2004, awarded annually to the most outstanding college football player in the United States.

Question 3: What teams did Matt Leinart play for in the NFL?

Throughout his NFL career, Leinart played for four different teams: the Arizona Cardinals, Houston Texans, Buffalo Bills, and Oakland Raiders. He spent the majority of his career with the Cardinals, where he played for four seasons.

Question 4: What is Matt Leinart's current occupation?

Since retiring from the NFL in 2012, Leinart has transitioned into a career in sports broadcasting. He currently works as a college football analyst for Fox Sports, providing expert insights and commentary on the game.

Question 5: What is Matt Leinart's legacy in the NFL?

Matt Leinart is remembered as a talented and promising quarterback who had a solid NFL career. Despite facing challenges and injuries, he made significant contributions to the teams he played for. His Rookie of the Year award and Heisman Trophy victory stand as testaments to his skills and achievements on the field.

In conclusion, Matt Leinart's NFL career was marked by both successes and challenges. He left his mark on the league with his impressive performances and contributions, while his transition to sports broadcasting has allowed him to continue his involvement in the sport he loves.

Transition to the next article section:

Matt Leinart's journey in the NFL is a reminder of the talent, determination, and resilience required to succeed in professional sports. His story continues to inspire aspiring athletes and football enthusiasts alike.

Conclusion

Matt Leinart's NFL journey serves as a testament to the challenges and triumphs that shape the careers of professional athletes. His exceptional talent and early success were met with adversity, but he persevered and left a lasting impact on the league.

Leinart's legacy extends beyond his on-field achievements. He has become a respected voice in sports broadcasting, sharing his insights and passion for the game. His story inspires aspiring athletes to embrace challenges, learn from setbacks, and strive for greatness.