Matt Russell
Encyclopedia
Matthew Russell is a former American Football
linebacker
who played for the Detroit Lions
in 1997. He is currently the Director of Pro Scouting with the Denver Broncos
in Belleville, Illinois
. He played college football at University of Colorado at Boulder
, where he won the Butkus Award as the nation's best linebacker
in 1996.
in the 4th round of the 1997 NFL Draft
. He was expected to compete for a starting linebacker position with Stephen Boyd
following the departure of Pepper Johnson
.
In 1999 Russell injured his knee during the opening kickoff of the first preseason game against the Atlanta Falcons
, and was lost for the season to injured reserve
. He had also suffered a season ending knee injury the year before. Knee injuries eventually forced Russell to retire after the 1999 season.
.
Russell served as scout with the Philadelphia Eagles
and New England Patriots
from 2001-2008. He was hired to his current position with the Broncos in 2009.
Russell is credited for persuading Scott Pioli
and the New England Patriots to draft Matt Cassel
.
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...
linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
who played for the Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
in 1997. He is currently the Director of Pro Scouting with the Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
Early Playing Career
Russell attended Belleville High School-EastBelleville High School-East
Belleville High School East, or Belleville Township High School East or simply Belleville East, is one of three major high schools in Belleville, Illinois. It is one of two school in Illinois' district 201. It and its sister school, Belleville West, comprise the largest school district in St. Clair...
in Belleville, Illinois
Belleville, Illinois
Belleville is a city in St. Clair County, Illinois, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city has a population of 44,478. It is the eighth-most populated city outside of the Chicago Metropolitan Area and the most populated city south of Springfield in the state of Illinois. It is the county...
. He played college football at University of Colorado at Boulder
University of Colorado at Boulder
The University of Colorado Boulder is a public research university located in Boulder, Colorado...
, where he won the Butkus Award as the nation's best linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
in 1996.
Pro career
Russell was drafted by the Detroit LionsDetroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
in the 4th round of the 1997 NFL Draft
1997 NFL Draft
The 1997 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 19–20, 1997. No teams elected to claim any players in the supplemental draft that...
. He was expected to compete for a starting linebacker position with Stephen Boyd
Stephen Boyd
Stephen Boyd was an Irish actor, from Glengormley, Northern Ireland, who appeared in around 60 films, most notably in the role of Messala in Ben-Hur.-Biography:...
following the departure of Pepper Johnson
Pepper Johnson
Thomas "Pepper" Johnson is a former American football linebacker, and the current defensive line coach for the New England Patriots of the National Football League.-College:...
.
In 1999 Russell injured his knee during the opening kickoff of the first preseason game against the Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, and was lost for the season to injured reserve
Injured reserve
The injured reserve list is a list of reserved players who are injured and unable to play for a period of time, used most prominently in the National Hockey League and National Football League . It is used because these leagues have a maximum number of players on the team roster, so placing a...
. He had also suffered a season ending knee injury the year before. Knee injuries eventually forced Russell to retire after the 1999 season.
Post Playing Career
While with the Lions, Russell befriended Lions scout Tom Dimitroff, who later worked for the Patriots, hiring Russell as a scout. Dimitroff is currently the General Manager of the Atlanta FalconsAtlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
Russell served as scout with the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
and 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...
from 2001-2008. He was hired to his current position with the Broncos in 2009.
Russell is credited for persuading Scott Pioli
Scott Pioli
Scott Pioli is a professional American football executive, currently serving as the general manager for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League . Pioli was previously a front office executive for the Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Ravens, New York Jets, and New England Patriots...
and the New England Patriots to draft Matt Cassel
Matt Cassel
Matthew Brennan "Matt" Cassel is a quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League. He was drafted by the New England Patriots in the seventh round of the 2005 NFL Draft...
.