Matt Gotel Bio
Matthew Gotel is an American football nose tackle born on January 2, 1999, in Tacoma, Washington. Standing 6 ft 2 in and listed at 341 lb, he plays the interior defensive line position, focusing on stopping the run and disrupting opposing backfields. Gotel is currently a member of the San Antonio Brahmas of the United Football League, continuing a professional career that began as an undrafted free agent in 2022.
Over the course of his professional journey, Gotel has spent time with multiple NFL organizations, including the Seattle Seahawks and the Atlanta Falcons, while also competing in spring football leagues. He is widely recognized for the role he played in helping the West Florida Argonauts capture an NCAA Division II national championship during the 2019 season.
Early Life and Background
Matthew Gotel was born and raised in Tacoma, Washington, where he developed an early interest in football. He attended Lakes High School in nearby Lakewood, Washington, and became a member of a highly successful football program under head coach Dave Miller. His performance at the high school level, however, drew attention primarily from junior college programs rather than larger four-year universities.
Coming out of Lakes High School, Gotel received his only college offer from Snow College, a junior college program located in Ephraim, Utah. He made the move to Utah to begin his collegiate career, embracing the opportunity to develop his game and earn a path to a higher level of competition.
Path to American Football
At Snow College, Gotel quickly established himself as a physical presence on the defensive line. As a freshman in 2017, he recorded 19 tackles, and he followed that up with 26 tackles as a sophomore in 2018. His development in the trenches at Snow helped him gain valuable experience and exposure against a range of collegiate competition.
Gotel’s break came when a football recruiter from the University of West Florida spotted him during a bowl game for Snow College. Impressed with the program and the opportunity, Gotel enrolled at West Florida in 2019, where he would go on to play a meaningful role in one of the most successful seasons in program history.
Matt Gotel Career
Early Career (2017–2021)
Gotel’s early football career was built across two collegiate programs. After his two seasons at Snow College, he transferred to the University of West Florida, where he joined a rising Argonauts program. In his first year at West Florida in 2019, he helped the team win an NCAA Division II national championship while contributing 31 tackles on the season.
The 2020 season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, limiting his on-field opportunities that year. As a senior in 2021, Gotel returned to the field and posted 26 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, and 1.5 sacks, completing his college career with a well-rounded statistical résumé and a championship pedigree.
Seattle Seahawks and Atlanta Falcons (2022)
Following the 2022 NFL draft, Matthew Gotel paid his own way to attend the Seattle Seahawks’ rookie minicamp as one of 58 undrafted prospects. He impressed the coaching staff and was offered a contract as an undrafted free agent, beginning his professional career. He was waived by the Seahawks on August 20, 2022.
Shortly after his release from Seattle, Gotel had a brief stint with the Atlanta Falcons in 2022 before being released. These early professional stops gave him valuable experience in NFL environments, even as he worked to find a longer-term roster home.
San Antonio Brahmas and Falcons Return (2023)
Gotel’s next opportunity came in the spring football landscape, as he was selected in the 2023 XFL draft by the San Antonio Brahmas. He made the Brahmas’ final roster and appeared in all 10 games of the season, recording 23 tackles and showing the consistency that had marked his college career.
Following his XFL season, Gotel returned to the NFL, signing with the Atlanta Falcons on August 4, 2023. He was released three days later, marking his second stint with the organization. The quick turnaround reflected the constant movement of undrafted players looking for their next opportunity.
Seattle Seahawks Return and San Antonio Brahmas Era (2023–2025)
Gotel re-signed with the Seattle Seahawks on August 17, 2023, continuing his back-and-forth relationship with the franchise. He was released at final roster cuts and re-signed to the practice squad, where he moved between the practice squad and active roster over the following months. He was released from the practice squad on November 10, then re-signed on January 1, 2024. He was elevated to the active roster for the team’s Week 18 season finale against the Arizona Cardinals, and signed a reserve/future contract on January 8, 2024.
Gotel was waived by the Seahawks on August 8, 2024, and later re-signed to the practice squad. On April 10, 2025, he signed with the San Antonio Brahmas of the United Football League, beginning his second stint with the franchise and marking his current team.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining moments of Gotel’s career came in 2019, when he helped the West Florida Argonauts win an NCAA Division II national championship in his first season with the program. Another milestone was his selection in the 2023 XFL draft and his appearance in all 10 games for the Brahmas, establishing him as a reliable contributor in spring football. He has also appeared in a regular-season NFL game, having been elevated to the Seahawks’ active roster for the 2023 season finale against the Arizona Cardinals.
Matt Gotel Career Wins
Matthew Gotel has not been widely documented for individual career wins in the traditional statistical sense, as nose tackles are evaluated more on disruption, tackles, and team success than on win totals. His most significant team accomplishment is the NCAA Division II national championship he won with the West Florida Argonauts in 2019. His professional résumé is highlighted by a full 10-game season with the San Antonio Brahmas in 2023 and an NFL active-roster appearance with the Seattle Seahawks in the 2023 season finale.
Matt Gotel Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Matthew Gotel was raised in the Tacoma, Washington, area, where he attended Lakes High School in Lakewood and played under coach Dave Miller. Limited public information is available about his broader family background beyond his upbringing in the Pacific Northwest.
2025 Season Performance
Matthew Gotel entered the 2025 football calendar by signing with the San Antonio Brahmas of the United Football League on April 10, 2025, returning to the franchise where he had previously appeared in all 10 games during the 2023 XFL season. The move marked a continuation of his role as a reliable interior defensive lineman in spring professional football, where his size and experience fit the Brahmas’ defensive scheme.
With the Brahmas, Gotel is expected to compete for snaps along the defensive line while contributing to run defense and pass-rush situations. His prior familiarity with the organization and his NFL practice-squad experience position him as a veteran presence in the locker room as the UFL season progresses.