View source for Matt Darwin

{{Short description|American football player (born 1963)}}
Bakersfield
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name        = Matt Darwin
| image       =
| caption     =
| position    = [[Center (American football)|Center]] / [[Offensive tackle]]
| number      = 78
| birth_date  = {{Birth date and age|1963|3|11}}
| birth_place = [[Houston, Texas]], U.S.
| death_date  =
| death_place =
| height_ft   = 6
| height_in   = 4
| weight_lbs  = 268
| draftyear   = 1986
| draftround  = 4
| draftpick   = 106
| high_school = [[Klein High School|Klein (TX)]]
| college     = [[Texas A&M Aggies football|Texas A&M]]
| pastteams   =
* [[Philadelphia Eagles]] ({{NFL Year|1986}}–{{NFL Year|1990}})
| highlights  =
* [[PFWA All-Rookie Team]] ([[PFWA All-Rookie Team#1986|1986]])
| statlabel1  = Games played
| statvalue1  = 61
| statlabel2  = Games [[Starting lineup|started]]
| statvalue2  = 52
| statlabel3  = [[Fumble]] recoveries
| statvalue3  = 2
| pfr         = DarwMa20
}}
'''Matthew Wayne Darwin''' (born March 11, 1963) is an American former professional [[American football|football]] player who was a [[Center (American football)|center]] in the [[National Football League]] (NFL) for the [[Philadelphia Eagles]]. He was drafted twice, first in the [[1985 NFL draft]] by the [[Dallas Cowboys]] and finally in the [[1986 NFL draft]] by the Eagles. He played [[college football]] at [[Texas A&M University]].
==Early life==
Darwin attended [[Klein High School]], where he played as a [[tight end]]. He accepted a football scholarship from [[Texas A&M University]].
As a freshman, he was converted into an [[offensive tackle]] and became a starter. As a sophomore, he was named the starting [[Center (American football)|center]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kickoff Volunteers at A&M |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1983/04/12/sports/kickoff-volunteers-at-a-m.html?pagewanted=all |access-date=April 30, 2023 |website=New York Times}}</ref> As a senior, he played at center and [[Guard (American football)|guard]], while not allowing an opponent sack.
==Professional career==
===Dallas Cowboys===
Darwin was selected by the [[Dallas Cowboys]] in the fifth round (119th overall) of the [[1986 NFL draft]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=1986 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1986/draft.htm |access-date=October 2, 2023 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> He had  contentious negotiations with the team and did not reach a contract agreement during the season.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1346&dat=19850718&id=fKpNAAAAIBAJ&sjid=z_sDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4107,792368 | title=Cowboys' Brandt getting tough | access-date=April 30, 2023}}</ref>
===Philadelphia Eagles===
After not signing with any team during the [[1985 NFL season|1985 season]], he re-entered the [[NFL draft]] and was selected by the [[Philadelphia Eagles]] in the fourth round (106th overall) of the [[1986 NFL draft]].<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1986/07/31/Matt-Darwin-the-Philadelphia-Eagles-fourth-round-draft-pick-has/1104523166400/ | title=Matt Darwin, the Philadelphia Eagles' fourth-round draft pick, has... | access-date=April 30, 2023}}</ref>
After experiencing another contract holdout, he replaced an injured [[Gerry Feehery]] and started 10 games at [[Center (American football)|center]] as a rookie. The next year, he was moved to [[left tackle]], where he would remain as the starter for three years.
On December 21, [[1989 NFL season|1989]] he was placed on the [[injured reserve list]] with a left knee injury. The next year he re-injured his knee and was placed on the [[injured reserve list]] on September 30 after playing and starting in two games.
==Personal life==
After his football career, Darwin settled down and became a scoutmaster for Troop 437 in [[Richardson, Texas]] until 2018, when he stepped down after his third youngest son became an [[Eagle Scout (Boy Scouts of America)|Eagle Scout]], graduated, went to college, and was married.
Matt Darwin currently attends a Reformed Baptist church in [[Wylie, Texas]].
==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}
==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20140903122202/http://articles.philly.com/1986-07-30/sports/26095739_1_training-camp-matt-darwin-holdout The Last Holdout Darwin Agonizes But Does Not Waver]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20140903210317/http://articles.philly.com/1990-08-16/sports/25930799_1_eagles-million-quarterback-matt-darwin Matt Darwin Takes The Field On A Rebuilt Left Knee]
{{Cowboys1985DraftPicks}}
{{Eagles1986DraftPicks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Darwin, Matt}}
[[Category:1963 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Houston]]
[[Category:American football centers]]
[[Category:American football offensive tackles]]
[[Category:Texas A&M Aggies football players]]
[[Category:Philadelphia Eagles players]]