Matt Lee Bio
Matthew Lee is an American professional football center for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League. Standing 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighing 310 pounds, Lee plays the offensive interior and has contributed at both center and on special teams since entering the league.
Born on June 6, 2001, in Oviedo, Florida, Lee attended Paul J. Hagerty High School before launching a college career that took him from the UCF Knights to the Miami Hurricanes. Selected by the Bengals in the seventh round of the 2024 NFL Draft, he has appeared in regular-season games for Cincinnati and has continued to develop within the organization.
Early Life and Background
Matthew Lee grew up in Oviedo, Florida, a community in the Orlando metropolitan area known for producing college football talent. He was born on June 6, 2001, and raised in the same region where he would later build his football reputation. His early athletic development took place in local youth programs before he enrolled at Paul J. Hagerty High School.
At Hagerty, Lee developed into a highly regarded offensive lineman, drawing attention from several college programs. Following his senior season, he initially committed to play for the South Florida Bulls before changing course and flipping his commitment to the UCF Knights. The decision brought him closer to home and set the stage for his collegiate career.
Path to Professional Football
Lee joined the UCF Knights in 2019, where he redshirted his first year while appearing in four games. He quickly earned a starting role and, by his sophomore season in 2020, started all ten games he played, earning first-team All-AAC recognition for his performance at center.
Across his UCF tenure, Lee continued to start consistently and added third-team All-AAC honors in 2021 and second-team all-conference recognition in 2022. After the 2022 season, he entered the NCAA transfer portal as a four-star transfer, ranked as the second-best interior lineman and the top center available. He finished his college career with the Miami Hurricanes in 2023, where Pro Football Focus graded him as a top-15 center with a 76.5 overall mark.
Matt Lee Career
College Career (2019–2023)
Lee opened his college career at UCF in 2019, redshirting while gaining experience in four games. He became a full-time starter the following season and never relinquished the role, lining up for every contest he appeared in across his Knights career.
After three seasons as a starter at UCF, Lee transferred to Miami for his final year of eligibility. His lone Hurricanes season in 2023 produced top-15 center grades and led him to declare for the 2024 NFL Draft, where the Cincinnati Bengals selected him in the seventh round with the 237th overall pick.
Cincinnati Bengals Era (2024–Present)
Lee joined the Bengals as a seventh-round selection in 2024 and made an immediate impression by appearing in all 17 regular-season games, including one start, during his rookie campaign. His versatility allowed Cincinnati to use him at center and in reserve roles along the offensive line.
In 2025, Lee continued in a rotational capacity, recording five appearances and contributing 16 special teams snaps before suffering a knee injury in Week 8 against the New York Jets. He was placed on injured reserve on October 28, 2025. On April 7, 2026, the Bengals waived him, marking the latest administrative move in his early professional tenure.
Playing Style and Strengths
Lee is listed at 6 feet 4 inches and 310 pounds, giving him the frame of a traditional NFL center. His college evaluation at Miami highlighted consistent technique and steady grades, and he has been deployed primarily in a backup role with spot-start responsibility for the Bengals. His experience across multiple offensive line schemes at UCF and Miami has supported his versatility in Cincinnati.
Notable Events and Milestones
Lee’s draft selection by the Bengals in the seventh round of the 2024 NFL Draft stands as a key career milestone, following a college path that included First-team All-AAC honors in 2020. He recorded his first NFL start during his rookie year and later appeared on special teams before a knee injury in 2025 interrupted his second season.
Matt Lee Career Honors
Matthew Lee’s college career produced multiple all-conference selections, reflecting his development as a starter at center for both UCF and Miami. He earned First-team All-AAC recognition in 2020, Third-team All-AAC in 2021, and two consecutive Second-team All-ACC selections in 2022 and 2023.
Conference Recognition
Lee’s all-conference recognition began in 2020, when he started all ten games for UCF and earned first-team honors. He followed that with a third-team selection in 2021, a second-team nod in 2022, and a second-team selection in 2023 at Miami.
Professional Resume
As a professional, Lee has recorded 22 games played and one start through the 2025 season, with contributions on offense and special teams for the Cincinnati Bengals.
Matt Lee Family
Personal Life
Matthew Lee was born and raised in Oviedo, Florida. Public information about his immediate family has not been widely documented in verified sources.
2025 Season Performance
Matthew Lee’s 2025 campaign with the Cincinnati Bengals began as a continuation of his rotational role from his rookie year. He appeared in five games, contributing 16 special teams snaps while serving as depth along the offensive line.
His season was interrupted on October 28, 2025, when a knee injury suffered in Week 8 against the New York Jets led to a placement on injured reserve. The injury cut short what had been a steady second professional year.
On April 7, 2026, the Bengals waived Lee, ending his tenure with the organization that had drafted him a year earlier. His next steps will determine whether he returns to the field elsewhere or steps away from the league.