Matt Cassel Bio, Family, Wife, Age, Net Worth, College, Patriots and Chiefs
Matt Cassel Biography
Matt Cassel (Full name – Matthew Brennan Cassel) is an American football quarterback who was born on May 17, 1982, Northridge, Los Angeles, California. He is currently a free agent. Cassel was drafted by the New England Patriots in the seventh round of the 2005 NFL draft. He played college football at USC. Cassel has also played for the Kansas City Chiefs, Minnesota Vikings, Buffalo Bills, Dallas Cowboys, Tennessee Titans, and Detroit Lions as a journeyman quarterback throughout his career.
Matt Cassel became the Patriots’ starting quarterback after then reigning NFL MVP Tom Brady suffered a season-ending knee injury , in Week 2 of the 2008 season. The Patriots used their franchise tag on Cassel in February 2009, extending him a one-year contract worth over $14 million, the largest one-year contract for an offensive player in NFL history. The Patriots made a trade later that offseason, which sent Cassel to the Kansas City Chiefs, who signed him to a 6-year, $62.7 million contract in July 2009. Matt Cassel led the Chiefs to their first AFC West divisional championship in seven years in 2010, and earned a Pro Bowl selection in the process.
Matt Cassel Family
Cassel is the son of Barbara Cassel, Emmy-winning set decorator, and her husband Greg Cassel. His parents divorced when Cassel was 14 and his father died on December 8, 2008. Matt Cassel has three siblings: older brother Jack (who is married to Killian’s USC roommate and teammate, Julie Mariani), younger brother Justin, and younger sister Amanda. Jack pitched for the San Diego Padres and Houston Astros. Justin pitched for in the Chicago White Sox farm system for six seasons.
Matt Cassel Wife
In February 2007, Cassel married his longtime girlfriend Lauren Killian, a former USC volleyball player. During his wedding, Carson Palmer was his best man.
Matt Cassel Age
Cassel was born on May 17, 1982, Northridge, Los Angeles, California. He is a football quarterback who is currently a free agent. Cassel is 37 years old as of 2019.
Matt Cassel College
Matt Cassel began his college career in 2001 and spent that entire Trojan career as a backup behind Heisman Trophy winners Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart. He saw limited time in three games in the 2001 season. In 2001, Cassel made his lone collegiate start at H-back against California. Cassel was the backup for Palmer during his Heisman-winning 2002 season. He appeared in three games and completed three passes for 27 total yards.
Cassel lost the battle for the starting position to the previous third-string quarterback in Leinart in the fall. As a result of Leinart’s success, Cassel spent time at tight end and wide receiver in 2003, and some special teams that year. Matt Cassel appeared in two games and completed 6-of-13 passes for 63 yards in the 2003 season. He was 10-of-14 for 97 yards and an interception in his last season with the Trojans. Cassel completed 20-of-33 passes for 192 yards, with no touchdowns and one interception during his four seasons at USC. A communication major at USC, Matt Cassel, was also roommates with Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu and Carson Palmer.
In 2004, Matt Cassel played one season of baseball for USC compiling an 0–1 record with 10 strikeouts and four walks. He played in eight games and started one. Cassel struck out in his only at bat in college. He also had two saves with a 9.35 ERA, and was selected by the Oakland Athletics in the 36th round of the 2004 MLB Draft
Matt Cassel Patriots
Matt Cassel was drafted by the New England Patriots in the seventh round of the 2005 NFL draft. He began the 2005 season third on the Patriots’ depth chart behind Tom Brady and Doug Flutie, after beating out two more veteran quarterbacks, Chris Redman and Rohan Davey. Cassel saw his first regular season action in the closing minutes of the Patriots’ 41–17 loss to the San Diego Chargers on October 2, 2005, going 2-for-4 for 15 yards and throwing an interception.
In the Patriots’ final game of the 2005 regular season, a 28–26 loss to the Miami Dolphins on January 1, 2006, Cassel played the final three quarters. He threw two touchdown passes, one to wide receiver Tim Dwight, and the second to tight end Benjamin Watson though he was sacked for a safety. The pass to Dwight set up a drop-kick by Doug Flutie, the first such kick since 1941.
Cassel moved up to second on the Patriots’ depth chart following Flutie’s retirement in the 2006 offseason. Although the Patriots considered signing a veteran quarterback to compete with him, Cassel played well in preseason and became the primary backup to Brady. Matt Cassel was on the 45-man active roster for all 16 games in 2006; when the Patriots brought in yet another Heisman winner, Vinny Testaverde, Testaverde acted as the emergency quarterback.
After injuries to Josh Miller and Ken Walter in Week 16 of the 2006 season in Week 16 of the 2006 season, Matt Cassel assumed duties as holder for kicker Stephen Gostkowski. He also led a late touchdown drive in the Week 17 regular season finale against the Tennessee Titans.
ESPN’s Chris Mortensen reported that the Patriots would franchise tag Cassel on January 4, 2009. The Patriots made it official on February 5, 2009, the first day of the 2009 franchise period, and Cassel agreed to the tender two days later.
Cassel had become the first quarterback in NFL history to record by the end of the 2008 season with at least 10 wins, 325 completions, a 63% completion mark, 3,600 passing yards, 20 touchdown passes, 11 or fewer interceptions, and 250 rushing yards in a single season. Only two other quarterbacks have accomplished the feat as of 2017, Russell Wilson (twice) and Aaron Rodgers (five times).
Matt Cassel Net Worth | Salary
Matt Cassel excelled at both baseball and football during his school years, playing in the Little League World Series final in 1994, and lettering in both sports in high school. He has an annual salary of $5.25 million and has an estimated net worth of $30 million.
Matt Cassel Height | Weight
Matt Cassey’s huge frame towers at a height of 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m). He also weighs a massive 228 lb (103 kg). His tough physique is essential in the success of his football career as a quarterback.
Matt Cassel Chiefs
The Patriots traded both Matt Cassel and outside linebacker Mike Vrabel to the Kansas City Chiefs on February 28, 2009, for the No. 34 overall selection in the 2009 NFL Draft. NFL Network’s Adam Schefter (now with ESPN) described the trade as “one of the wilder and more complex behind-the-scene dramas the NFL has seen in any recent offseason,” with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers proposing a three-way trade with the Denver Broncos, in which the Buccaneers would have received Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler, the Broncos would have received Cassel, and New England would have received a first-round draft pick.
Cassel’s Contract
The Chiefs signed Cassel to a six-year on July 14, 2009, $62.7 million contract that included $28 million in guaranteed money, and $40.5 million in total compensation in the first three seasons.
Matt Cassel suffered an MCL injury on August 29, 2009, during the 1st quarter of a preseason game against the Seattle Seahawks. He was dragged to the ground and grabbed for his knee immediately upon impact. He attempted to continue playing but called a timeout and limped off the field. Brodie Croyle started the final game of the preseason against the St. Louis Rams as well as the regular season opening game against the Baltimore Ravens when Cassel was still unable to play. Cassel, though, started every game thereafter, going 4–11. Matt Cassel threw for 2,924 yards with 16 touchdowns and 16 interceptions and had a quarterback rating of 69.9 in his first season with the Chiefs.
Sources close to the Chiefs reported on March 13, 2013, that they intended to trade or release Cassel. Cassel was released by the Chiefs on March 14, 2013. On the same day he was released from the Chiefs, he signed with the Minnesota Vikings
