Matt Farniok Bio
Matt Farniok is an American professional football center for the Dallas Renegades of the United Football League (UFL). He was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the seventh round of the 2021 NFL Draft. Farniok played college football at the University of Nebraska, where he developed his skills and earned recognition for his performance on the field.
Early Life and Background
Matt Farniok was born on September 26, 1997, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He attended Washington High School, where he began to showcase his talent in football. As a sophomore, he became a starter on the offensive line, and by his junior year, he had earned Class 11AAA All-state honors and was recognized as part of the Sioux Falls Argus Leader’s Elite 45. In his senior year, Farniok played a pivotal role in leading his team to a state championship, receiving accolades such as the South Dakota Gatorade Player of the Year and being named a first-team Parade All-American. He was ranked as a three-star recruit by 247Sports.com and committed to play college football at the University of Nebraska on January 27, 2016.
Path to American Football
Farniok’s college career at Nebraska began with a redshirt freshman season, where he appeared in seven games and made four starts. He played both right tackle and right guard during his time at Nebraska. As a sophomore, he secured the starting position at right tackle, contributing to the team’s impressive offensive statistics. In his junior year, he started all 12 games at right tackle, solidifying his reputation as a reliable player. His senior season was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to a reduced schedule of eight games. Despite this, he became one of only 13 two-time captains in the school’s history, starting all games on the offensive line and showcasing his leadership abilities.
Matt Farniok Career
Early Career (2021-2022)
Matt Farniok was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the seventh round of the 2021 NFL Draft, being the 238th overall pick. He signed a four-year rookie contract on May 13, 2021. In his rookie season, he appeared in 12 games, primarily contributing to special teams in kick protection. In 2022, he played in seven games, starting two at left guard due to an injury to teammate Connor McGovern. Unfortunately, Farniok suffered a torn hamstring injury during the season, which led to him being placed on injured reserve.
Breakthrough (2023-Present)
In the 2023 preseason, Farniok faced challenges in maintaining his position on the depth chart and was waived by the Cowboys on August 29, 2023. Shortly after, he was signed to the practice squad of the Chicago Bears on September 7, 2023, but was released later that year. On December 5, 2023, he joined the practice squad of the Detroit Lions, where he signed a reserve/future contract in January 2024. However, he was waived by the Lions in July 2024.
Notable Works and Milestones
Throughout his career, Matt Farniok has demonstrated resilience and adaptability, transitioning between teams and positions. He has played a total of 19 games in the NFL, starting in two of them, and has been a part of multiple teams, including the Dallas Cowboys, Chicago Bears, and Detroit Lions.
Matt Farniok Award Nominations
Throughout his career, Matt Farniok has not received any notable award nominations.
Matt Farniok Awards Won
Matt Farniok has not won any awards during his professional football career.
Matt Farniok Family
Matt Farniok comes from a football-oriented family, with three brothers—Derek, Tom, and Will—who all played football at the NCAA Division I level.
Personal Life
Details about Matt Farniok’s personal life remain private, with no publicly available information regarding his marital status or children. He continues to focus on his professional career in football, currently playing for the Dallas Renegades in the UFL.