1. Thomas Roland Matte was an American professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League in the 1960s and 1970s and earned a Super Bowl ring.
12 Facts About Tom Matte
1. 2.
Tom Matte attended Shaw High School in East Cleveland and was an Eagle Scout.
3.
Tom Matte was an All-American quarterback playing college football at Ohio State University.
4.
Tom Matte played quarterback but was more known for his rushing skills than passing prowess.
5.
Tom Matte, nicknamed "Garbage Can", spent his 12-year pro career with the Baltimore Colts where he posted career stats of 4,646 rushing yards, 249 receptions for 2,869 yards, 1,367 yards returning kickoffs, and 57 touchdowns.
6.
Late in the 1965 season, Tom Matte memorably filled in as an emergency quarterback when Colts QBs Johnny Unitas and Gary Cuozzo went down with season-ending injuries in consecutive home losses to the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers, respectively.
7.
Tom Matte caught 25 passes for 275 yards and a touchdown.
8.
Tom Matte was injured in the first game of the 1970 season against the San Diego Chargers and therefore did not play when the Colts returned to Super Bowl V at the end of that season and beat the Dallas Cowboys.
9.
Tom Matte returned for one last fresh run with the 1971 season, playing in all 14 games and rushing for 607 yards on 173 carries for eight touchdowns while catching 29 passes for 239 yards.
10.
Tom Matte was a color analyst on CBS coverage of NFL games from 1976 to 1978.
11.
From 1996 to 2005, Tom Matte teamed with Baltimore sportscaster Scott Garceau in broadcasting Baltimore Ravens games on local radio.
12.
Tom Matte died on November 2,2021, in Ruxton, Maryland, from complications of leukemia.