Matt Barkley

Journeyman quarterback whose 2016 run as Bears starter inspired the Philly Special.

Matt Barkley (born 1990) is a former NFL quarterback who has been on 11 different teams, mostly as a backup, and whose most notable stint came with the Chicago Bears in 2016, when he finished the season as the starter. At USC he set the Pac-12 single-season record for touchdown passes.

Quick Facts

Number: 2, 5, 12, 19
Position: Quarterback
Born: 8 September 1990
Birthplace: Newport Beach, California, U.S.
High school: Mater Dei (Santa Ana, California)
College: USC (2009–2012)
Draft year: 2013
Draft round: 4

Facts from the source article.

Background

Barkley joined Chicago's practice squad on September 4, 2016, and was promoted later that month. He first appeared after Brian Hoyer was injured against Green Bay, then started against Tennessee once Jay Cutler hurt his shoulder, throwing for 316 yards and three touchdowns and nearly erasing a 20-point fourth-quarter deficit. His first NFL win came the next week, 26-6 over San Francisco, the team's third and last victory of the year.

On December 18 he threw for 362 yards in a 30-27 loss to the Packers decided by a last-second field goal, the most yards by a Bears quarterback against Green Bay in the rivalry's history. A week later he threw five interceptions against Washington, four on consecutive second-half drives, the most by a Bear since Cutler in 2009. In the finale he caught a touchdown pass from receiver Cameron Meredith on a trick play that later inspired the Eagles' Philly Special in Super Bowl LII.

He finished 2016 with 1,611 passing yards, eight touchdowns and 14 interceptions, and 41.2 percent of his attempts went for first downs, second in the league behind Matt Ryan. A shoulder injury as a USC senior had dropped him to the fourth round of the 2013 draft, where Philadelphia took him.

Did You Know?

Barkley's 362 yards against Green Bay in December 2016 were the most ever by a Bears quarterback in the rivalry.
The trick-play touchdown he caught in the 2016 finale was the model for Philadelphia's Philly Special.