Matt Flynn
Encyclopedia
Matthew Clayton Flynn is an American football
quarterback
for the Green Bay Packers
of the National Football League
. He was drafted by the Packers in the 7th round of the 2008 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at LSU
.
of Baytown, Texas
. As a junior in 2001, Flynn guided his team to a 5A playoff appearance but lost to the eventual state champion Mesquite High School
. Flynn completed 101-of-199 passes for 1,650 yards, 13 touchdowns and 9 interceptions for the season. As a senior, he completed 124-of-206 passes for 1,679 yards and 9 touchdowns. He also displayed his ability on the ground with 305 yards rushing and 12 touchdowns. Flynn displayed toughness by leading Robert E. Lee High School to a semifinal appearance in one of the toughest classifications in Texas despite playing his last four games with a broken foot. His team lost to Midland High School
24-14.
Flynn was a member of the SuperPrep Texas 124, Dallas Morning News Texas Top 100 and the Tyler Morning Telegraph
All-East Texas Football Team. He chose LSU over Tennessee
, Texas Tech
, Texas A&M
.
, as did the other LSU quarterback signee, JaMarcus Russell. In 2004, he served as third string quarterback as a redshirt freshman, behind starter Marcus Randall
and backup JaMarcus Russell
. He also doubled as the LSU's holder
on placekicks. Flynn played in all 12 games, but only three games at quarterback. His collegiate first completion went to Xavier Carter
for a 67-yard touchdown against Mississippi State
. Flynn also made a short appearance in the 2004 Capital One Bowl
, completing 1-of-4 passes for 11 yards in a 25-30 losing effort against Iowa. He finished the year by completing 4-of-10 passes for 99 yards and 1 TD.
, Flynn threw a perfect 7-of-7 for 139 yards and 3 TDs, all in the fourth quarter. In the 2005 SEC Championship Game
against the Georgia Bulldogs
, starting quarterback Russell was injured and Flynn finished the game. He was then given the nod to start for the Tigers in the 2005 Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl against the University of Miami
Hurricanes. In that game, he led the Tigers to a 40-3 rout of Miami.
on October 14, 2006.
With Russell's departure, Flynn would finally become a starter as a fifth-year senior. He would start every game this season except the SEC Championship in which he was injured.
Flynn threw a 22 yard TD pass to Demetrius Byrd
to win the game against Auburn
on October 20, 2007, there was one second remaining on the clock; Colt David kicked the extra point to make the final score LSU 30-Auburn 24.
He would then lead the Tigers to a 4th quarter comeback against Alabama. Flynn and the Tigers would then go on to beat Louisiana Tech the following weekend and climb back to the #1 spot after a loss by then #1 Ohio St. The following week the Tigers would handily beat Ole Miss. In his final game at Tiger Stadium, Flynn and the Tigers lost to Arkansas, seemingly losing any chance at the national title. However, LSU, without Flynn, beat Tennessee for the SEC Championship, and losses by Missouri and West Virginia vaulted LSU back into the title game in New Orleans.
On January 7, 2008, Flynn led LSU to a BCS National Championship, beating Ohio State 38-24. Flynn was named offensive MVP of the game.
As the starting quarterback for LSU, Flynn led the Tigers to an undisputed #1 ranking in the polls.
in the seventh round (209th overall) of the 2008 NFL Draft
. On July 23, he was signed to a four year rookie contract through the 2011 season. He is currently listed as the Packers' second string quarterback, having won the competition for the back up role to Aaron Rodgers
, beating out fellow rookie and second round pick Brian Brohm
. The battle for the second string position became the most intriguing battle in camp. Flynn was seen as being less talented than Brohm because of Brohm's superior size, arm and foot speed, coupled with the fact Brohm was selected much higher in the draft compared to Flynn.
On December 19, 2010, Flynn made his first NFL start against the New England Patriots
after starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers
was not cleared medically to start. Flynn threw three touchdown passes; one each to John Kuhn
, James Jones
and Greg Jennings
against New England, but threw an interception that was returned for a touchdown in the second half. The game went down to the final play when Flynn, with the ball at the New England 15-yard line, lost it when he was sacked. The Packers lost the game 31-27. Flynn completed 23 of 37 passes for 254 yards in the loss.
On November 14, 2011, Flynn scored his first career rushing touchdown in the 4th quarter against the Vikings.
in the 1960s. His mother, Ruth, was the director of the Tyler Junior College Apache Belles. Matt has 4 siblings: Adam, Bill, Rebecca, and Amanda.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
for the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He was drafted by the Packers in the 7th round of the 2008 NFL Draft
2008 NFL Draft
The 2008 NFL Draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 26 and April 27, 2008. For the 29th consecutive year, ESPN televised the draft; the NFL Network also broadcast the event, its third year doing so...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at LSU
LSU Tigers football
The LSU Tigers football team, also known as the Fighting Tigers or Bayou Bengals, represents Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States in NCAA Division I FBS college football. Current head coach Les Miles has led the team since 2005. Since 1999 when Nick Saban took over as...
.
Early years
Matt Flynn attended Robert E. Lee High School in Tyler, Texas, where he was coached by Mike Owens. Flynn was one of the top-rated quarterbacks in the state of Texas, alongside Drew TateDrew Tate
Drew Tate is a professional American and Canadian football quarterback for the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League. He was signed by the St. Louis Rams as an undrafted free agent in 2007. He played college football at Iowa....
of Baytown, Texas
Baytown, Texas
Baytown is a city within Harris County and partially in Chambers County in the Gulf Coast region of the U.S. state of Texas. Located within the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area, it lies along both State Highway 146 and Interstate 10. As of 2010, Baytown had an population of 71,802...
. As a junior in 2001, Flynn guided his team to a 5A playoff appearance but lost to the eventual state champion Mesquite High School
Mesquite High School (Mesquite, Texas)
Mesquite High School is a high school in Mesquite, Texas. Physically, the school lies adjacent to the intersection of Beltline Rd/East Davis Rd as well as Beltline Rd/East Gross Rd....
. Flynn completed 101-of-199 passes for 1,650 yards, 13 touchdowns and 9 interceptions for the season. As a senior, he completed 124-of-206 passes for 1,679 yards and 9 touchdowns. He also displayed his ability on the ground with 305 yards rushing and 12 touchdowns. Flynn displayed toughness by leading Robert E. Lee High School to a semifinal appearance in one of the toughest classifications in Texas despite playing his last four games with a broken foot. His team lost to Midland High School
Midland High School (Midland, Texas)
Midland High School is a public high school located in Midland, Texas and is part of Midland Independent School District. The original Midland High School was built in 1926 and was moved twenty-three years later to a new building in 1949 where it currently sits today...
24-14.
Flynn was a member of the SuperPrep Texas 124, Dallas Morning News Texas Top 100 and the Tyler Morning Telegraph
Tyler Morning Telegraph
The Tyler Morning Telegraph is a daily newspaper based in Tyler, Texas, U.S. It is privately owned by the T.B. Butler Publishing Company, Inc....
All-East Texas Football Team. He chose LSU over Tennessee
University of Tennessee
The University of Tennessee is a public land-grant university headquartered at Knoxville, Tennessee, United States...
, Texas Tech
Texas Tech University
Texas Tech University, often referred to as Texas Tech or TTU, is a public research university in Lubbock, Texas, United States. Established on February 10, 1923, and originally known as Texas Technological College, it is the leading institution of the Texas Tech University System and has the...
, Texas A&M
Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University is a coeducational public research university located in College Station, Texas . It is the flagship institution of the Texas A&M University System. The sixth-largest university in the United States, A&M's enrollment for Fall 2011 was over 50,000 for the first time in school...
.
Freshman season
Flynn redshirted the 2003 NCAA Division I-A football season2003 NCAA Division I-A football season
The 2003 NCAA Division I-A football season ended with an abundance of controversy, resulting in a split national championship. This was the first split title since the inception of the BCS, something the BCS intended to eliminate....
, as did the other LSU quarterback signee, JaMarcus Russell. In 2004, he served as third string quarterback as a redshirt freshman, behind starter Marcus Randall
Marcus Randall
Marcus Randall is an American football player who plays for Team Arkansas of the All American Football League. Randall played quarterback for LSU, Tennessee Titans and Green Bay Packers of the National Football League.-College career:...
and backup JaMarcus Russell
JaMarcus Russell
JaMarcus Trenell Russell is an American football quarterback who is currently a free agent. Russell played college football for the LSU Tigers where he finished 21–4 as a starter and was named MVP of the 2007 Sugar Bowl. The Oakland Raiders selected Russell with the first overall pick of the 2007...
. He also doubled as the LSU's holder
Holder (American football)
In American football the holder is the player who receives the snap during field goal and extra point attempts made by place kick. The holder is usually positioned between seven and eight yards behind the line of scrimmage. The holder kneels down and places the hand farthest from the line of...
on placekicks. Flynn played in all 12 games, but only three games at quarterback. His collegiate first completion went to Xavier Carter
Xavier Carter
Xavier Carter is an American professional track and field athlete. He attended Louisiana State University and was a star on the track and field team as well a member of the football team. Prior to LSU, Xavier Carter graduated from Palm Bay Senior High School in Melbourne, FL...
for a 67-yard touchdown against Mississippi State
Mississippi State University
The Mississippi State University of Agriculture and Applied Science commonly known as Mississippi State University is a land-grant university located in Oktibbeha County, Mississippi, United States, partially in the town of Starkville and partially in an unincorporated area...
. Flynn also made a short appearance in the 2004 Capital One Bowl
Capital One Bowl
The Capital One Bowl is an annual college football bowl game played in Orlando, Florida at the Citrus Bowl, and previously known as the Tangerine Bowl and the Florida Citrus Bowl...
, completing 1-of-4 passes for 11 yards in a 25-30 losing effort against Iowa. He finished the year by completing 4-of-10 passes for 99 yards and 1 TD.
Sophomore season
The departure of Randall left Russell and Flynn battling for the starting QB position. Russell eventually got the job, leaving Flynn as backup. He played in seven games at quarterback for the Tigers in 2005, completing 27-of-48 passes for 457 yards, 7 touchdowns and 1 interception. In a win over North TexasUniversity of North Texas
The University of North Texas is a public institution of higher education and research in Denton. Founded in 1890, UNT is part of the University of North Texas System. As of the fall of 2010, the University of North Texas, Denton campus, had a certified enrollment of 36,067...
, Flynn threw a perfect 7-of-7 for 139 yards and 3 TDs, all in the fourth quarter. In the 2005 SEC Championship Game
2005 SEC Championship Game
The 2005 Dr. Pepper SEC Championship Game was played on December 3, 2005 in the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia. The game determined the 2005 football champion of the Southeastern Conference. The Georgia Bulldogs, winners of the Eastern division of the SEC, defeated the LSU Tigers, who won the...
against the Georgia Bulldogs
Georgia Bulldogs
The Georgia Bulldogs are the athletic teams of the University of Georgia. The Bulldogs compete in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I and are members of the Southeastern Conference...
, starting quarterback Russell was injured and Flynn finished the game. He was then given the nod to start for the Tigers in the 2005 Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl against the University of Miami
University of Miami
The University of Miami is a private, non-sectarian university founded in 1925 with its main campus in Coral Gables, Florida, a medical campus in Miami city proper at Civic Center, and an oceanographic research facility on Virginia Key., the university currently enrolls 15,629 students in 12...
Hurricanes. In that game, he led the Tigers to a 40-3 rout of Miami.
Junior season
Again serving as backup to Russell, Flynn appeared in seven games. He completed 12-of-20 passes for 133 yards over the season, recording 2 touchdowns and 1 interception. Both TDs came in a 49-0 rout against KentuckyUniversity of Kentucky
The University of Kentucky, also known as UK, is a public co-educational university and is one of the state's two land-grant universities, located in Lexington, Kentucky...
on October 14, 2006.
Senior season
Flynn threw a 22 yard TD pass to Demetrius Byrd
Demetrius Byrd
Demetrius Byrd is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the seventh round of the 2009 NFL Draft...
to win the game against Auburn
Auburn Tigers football
Only Mohamed Amin Abughadir set the record with 1,890 yards in 1 season. He was the QB for Auburn in 1998.The Auburn Tigers football team represents Auburn University in college football as a member of the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, competing in the Western Division of the...
on October 20, 2007, there was one second remaining on the clock; Colt David kicked the extra point to make the final score LSU 30-Auburn 24.
He would then lead the Tigers to a 4th quarter comeback against Alabama. Flynn and the Tigers would then go on to beat Louisiana Tech the following weekend and climb back to the #1 spot after a loss by then #1 Ohio St. The following week the Tigers would handily beat Ole Miss. In his final game at Tiger Stadium, Flynn and the Tigers lost to Arkansas, seemingly losing any chance at the national title. However, LSU, without Flynn, beat Tennessee for the SEC Championship, and losses by Missouri and West Virginia vaulted LSU back into the title game in New Orleans.
On January 7, 2008, Flynn led LSU to a BCS National Championship, beating Ohio State 38-24. Flynn was named offensive MVP of the game.
As the starting quarterback for LSU, Flynn led the Tigers to an undisputed #1 ranking in the polls.
Green Bay Packers
Flynn was drafted by the Green Bay PackersGreen Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
in the seventh round (209th overall) of the 2008 NFL Draft
2008 NFL Draft
The 2008 NFL Draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 26 and April 27, 2008. For the 29th consecutive year, ESPN televised the draft; the NFL Network also broadcast the event, its third year doing so...
. On July 23, he was signed to a four year rookie contract through the 2011 season. He is currently listed as the Packers' second string quarterback, having won the competition for the back up role to Aaron Rodgers
Aaron Rodgers
Aaron Charles Rodgers is an American football quarterback for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League . Rodgers was selected in the first round of the 2005 NFL Draft by the Packers...
, beating out fellow rookie and second round pick Brian Brohm
Brian Brohm
Brian Joseph Brohm is an American football quarterback for the Las Vegas Locomotives of the United Football League. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the second round of the 2008 NFL Draft...
. The battle for the second string position became the most intriguing battle in camp. Flynn was seen as being less talented than Brohm because of Brohm's superior size, arm and foot speed, coupled with the fact Brohm was selected much higher in the draft compared to Flynn.
On December 19, 2010, Flynn made his first NFL start against the New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
after starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers
Aaron Rodgers
Aaron Charles Rodgers is an American football quarterback for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League . Rodgers was selected in the first round of the 2005 NFL Draft by the Packers...
was not cleared medically to start. Flynn threw three touchdown passes; one each to John Kuhn
John Kuhn
John Allen Kuhn is an American football fullback, currently playing for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League. He was originally signed by the Pittsburgh Steelers as an undrafted free agent in 2005. John attended Dover Area High School in Dover, Pennsylvania...
, James Jones
James Jones (wide receiver)
James Deandre Jones is an American football wide receiver with the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League. He was originally drafted by the Packers in the third round of the 2007 NFL Draft...
and Greg Jennings
Greg Jennings
Gregory Jennings, Jr. is a professional American football wide receiver for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League...
against New England, but threw an interception that was returned for a touchdown in the second half. The game went down to the final play when Flynn, with the ball at the New England 15-yard line, lost it when he was sacked. The Packers lost the game 31-27. Flynn completed 23 of 37 passes for 254 yards in the loss.
On November 14, 2011, Flynn scored his first career rushing touchdown in the 4th quarter against the Vikings.
Personal
His father, Alvin, was a quarterback at BaylorBaylor University
Baylor University is a private, Christian university located in Waco, Texas. Founded in 1845, Baylor is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.-History:...
in the 1960s. His mother, Ruth, was the director of the Tyler Junior College Apache Belles. Matt has 4 siblings: Adam, Bill, Rebecca, and Amanda.