Matt Hasselbeck

Lore & Background

Hasselbeck is the son of Mary Beth 'Betsy' (Rueve) and Don Hasselbeck, a former New England Patriots tight end. Matt and his younger brothers Tim and Nathanael grew up in Norfolk, Massachusetts, and attended Xaverian Brothers High School in Westwood. He was selected as an honorable mention All-American by USA Today as a high school senior. Hasselbeck attended Boston College near his family's hometown. He played for the Boston College Eagles football team from 1994 to 1997, including two years with his younger brother Tim. Hasselbeck finished his college career as the starting quarterback (a position his brother Tim would later hold with the Eagles). Matt had career totals of 4,548 passing yards, 22 passing touchdowns, and 26 interceptions. He graduated with a degree in marketing.

Reader's Guide

Hasselbeck was selected by the Green Bay Packers in the sixth round (187th overall) of the 1998 NFL draft. He joined the team's practice squad in 1998 and was the backup for starting quarterback Brett Favre for the 1999 and 2000 NFL seasons. In Week 15 of the 1999 season, he threw his first professional touchdown on a nine-yard pass to Jeff Thomason in the 24–20 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. He had his first meaningful action in Week 11 of the 2000 season.

He went 9-of-18 for 93 yards and a touchdown in a 20–15 road loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Hasselbeck joined former Packers head coach Mike Holmgren and the Seattle Seahawks on March 2, 2001. The Packers traded him, along with their first draft pick (17th overall), to the Seahawks for their first (10th overall) and third-round draft picks (72nd overall). In his early years in Seattle, Hasselbeck battled for playing time with Trent Dilfer.

He started all 13 games he appeared in during the 2001 season. He passed for 2,023 yards, seven touchdowns, and eight interceptions. In Week 12 of the 2002 season, against the Kansas City Chiefs, Hasselbeck had 362 yards and three touchdowns in the 39–32 win. He was named NFC Offensive Player of the Week for Week 12.

In Week 13, he had 427 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions in the 31–24 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. In Week 17, he passed for 449 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions to go with a rushing touchdown in a 31–28 road overtime win against the San Diego Chargers. He finished the 2002 season with 3,075 yards, 15 touchdowns, and ten interceptions. After a strong finish in 2002, Hasselbeck entered 2003 as the unquestioned starter.

In Week 12, he had 333 yards and five touchdowns in a road overtime 44–41 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. Hasselbeck started all 16 games, leading Seattle to a 10–6 record for the first time since 1988 and a Wild Card berth. He also was selected to the Pro Bowl. The 2003 NFC Wild Card Game against the Green Bay Packers went into overtime where, at the overtime coin toss, Hasselbeck famously said 'we want the ball and we're going to score'.

During the second overtime possession for the Seahawks, Hasselbeck threw an interception to Packers defensive back Al Harris which was returned 52 yards down the sideline for a touchdown. It gave Green Bay a 33–27 overtime victory.

Seattle Tenure and Super Bowl Run

Matt Hasselbeck defined an era for the Seattle Seahawks following his trade from Green Bay in early 2001. Initially competing with Trent Dilfer for the starting role, he quickly cemented himself as the franchise quarterback by leading the team to six playoff appearances over a decade. His tenure peaked during the 2005 season when he achieved the highest passer rating in the NFC and secured the division's top seed. This performance propelled Seattle to its first-ever Super Bowl appearance at Super Bowl XL, where they ultimately fell to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Hasselbeck was also selected to three Pro Bowls during his time in Seattle, including a 2006 selection as the starting quarterback for the NFC team. Despite suffering significant injuries, such as an MCL sprain in 2006 caused by a collision with E.J. Henderson, he demonstrated remarkable resilience. He returned from the injury to guide the Seahawks to a divisional round victory over the Dallas Cowboys before falling to the Chicago Bears.

The Packers Years and Early Struggles

Before becoming a household name in Seattle, Matt Hasselbeck spent three formative years with the Green Bay Packers after being selected in the sixth round of the 1998 NFL Draft. Initially joining the practice squad, he served as the primary backup to legendary quarterback Brett Favre during the 1999 and 2000 seasons. His first professional touchdown came in a Week 15 loss to the Minnesota Vikings in 1999 on a nine-yard pass to Jeff Thomason. He saw his first meaningful action later that year, throwing for 93 yards and a touchdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Although he rarely started during this period, these years provided crucial experience under head coach Mike Holmgren. The relationship proved pivotal when Holmgren moved to Seattle in 2001; Hasselbeck followed him as part of a trade that sent Green Bay's first-round pick to Seattle in exchange for their own first and third-round selections. This move transformed his career trajectory, shifting him from a reliable reserve to the starting quarterback who would eventually lead the Seahawks to the Super Bowl.

Memorable Moments and Career Highs

Throughout his eighteen-season NFL career, Hasselbeck delivered several iconic performances that showcased his poise under pressure. One of the most defining moments occurred during the 2003 NFC Wild Card game against Green Bay. In overtime, he famously declared to the coin toss officials, 'we want the ball and we're going to score.' Despite this confident assertion, an interception returned for a touchdown by Al Harris ultimately handed the victory to the Packers in double overtime.

On the offensive side of the ledger, his 2007 season stands out as statistically dominant; he completed over 62 percent of his passes with a passer rating of 91.4, throwing for career-highs in both yards and touchdowns. He also recorded multiple games with four or more passing touchdowns, including a five-touchdown performance against the Baltimore Ravens in 2003 and another against the New York Giants in 2005. Even when facing adversity, such as playing through broken fingers on his non-throwing hand in 2006, he managed to keep his team competitive, leading them to a 9–7 record and a divisional playoff berth.

Family Legacy and Life Beyond the Gridiron

Matt Hasselbeck's life has been deeply intertwined with football through generations of family involvement. Born to Don Hasselbeck, a former New England Patriots tight end, Matt grew up in Norfolk, Massachusetts, alongside his younger brothers Tim and Nathanael. The brothers attended Xaverian Brothers High School together before moving on to Boston College, where Matt played quarterback from 1994 to 1997 while Tim later took over the position for the Eagles.

After retiring from professional play with stints in Tennessee and Indianapolis following his Seahawks tenure, Hasselbeck transitioned into media as an analyst for ESPN's Sunday NFL Countdown and Monday Night Countdown. In a full-circle moment in 2024, he returned to coaching at the high school level. He was hired by The Ensworth School in Nashville, Tennessee, to serve as the offensive coordinator, working directly under his brother Tim, who serves as the head coach.

This role marks a new chapter where Hasselbeck applies his extensive experience to mentor young athletes while continuing the family's long-standing tradition of football leadership.