Matt Overton Bio
Matthew Thomas Overton, born on July 6, 1985, in San Leandro, California, is an American professional football long snapper. Standing 6 ft 1 in tall and weighing 254 lb, Overton has built a long career in the National Football League (NFL) and several spring football leagues, primarily as a specialist on special teams. He is best known for his long tenure with the Indianapolis Colts and for earning a Pro Bowl selection in 2013.
Overton entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2007 and has since suited up for more than a dozen professional teams across the NFL, the af2, and the United Football League. His professional journey has taken him from the West Coast to the Midwest, the South, and the East Coast, showcasing his durability and longevity in a role that demands precision and consistency. Beyond football, Overton is recognized for his charitable work with young athletes.
Early Life and Background
Matthew Thomas Overton was raised in the San Francisco Bay Area and attended Tracy High School in Tracy, California. At Tracy, he was a two-way starter for four seasons with the Bulldogs football program, lining up on both sides of the ball. His high school performance earned him Lineman of the Year honors, player of the month and athlete of the month awards, and a 2002 San Joaquin Athletic Association (SJAA) honorable mention.
Despite these accolades, Overton was not offered any college scholarships out of high school. He decided to continue his football career at Diablo Valley College, a junior college located in Pleasant Hill, California. There, he worked to develop his body and skills while adjusting to the speed of the college game, laying the foundation for the rest of his football journey.
Path to Professional Football
Overton began his college football career at Diablo Valley College, where he earned Special Teams MVP and Team Captain honors. His play at the junior college level eventually drew attention from four-year programs, and he accepted a scholarship offer to attend Western Washington University. At Western Washington, Overton became a team captain and a two-year starter on defense and special teams.
While starting at defensive end for the Vikings, Overton recorded more than 40 tackles, 5 sacks, 7.5 tackles for loss, 1 interception, 1 forced fumble, and 7 pass break-ups. Those defensive statistics, combined with his development as a long snapper, helped position him for a professional career. He went undrafted in the 2007 NFL Draft but signed with the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent, officially launching his professional football journey.
Matt Overton Career
Early Career (2007–2010)
Overton’s first NFL opportunity came with the Seattle Seahawks in 2007, although he was released during his initial training camp. In 2008, he joined the Tri-Cities Fever of the af2, gaining valuable in-game experience as a long snapper. The following year, he signed with the Florida Tuskers of the United Football League (UFL) in 2009 and was part of a squad that posted an undefeated regular season and reached the first UFL championship game.
After the Tuskers campaign, Overton was re-signed by the Seattle Seahawks on February 10, 2010, but was released again during training camp. He then returned to the UFL, this time with the Omaha Nighthawks, where he was named to the UFL’s top-10 players list in 2010. That recognition cemented his reputation as one of the top long snappers in the league and led to his eventual return to the NFL.
Indianapolis Colts Breakthrough (2012–2016)
On April 3, 2012, Overton signed with the Indianapolis Colts, a move that would define the prime of his career. Used primarily as a long snapper, he provided stability and accuracy on field goals, extra points, and punts for one of the most stable organizations in the league. His consistency quickly made him a trusted member of the Colts’ special teams units.
Overton’s most notable individual honor came in 2013, when he was named to the Pro Bowl as a long snapper for the Indianapolis Colts. On March 3, 2015, the Colts rewarded his reliability with a four-year contract extension, signaling their confidence in his long-term role. He remained with Indianapolis until May 1, 2017, when the team released him, closing a five-season chapter that included his highest-profile recognition and his longest single-team tenure.
Jacksonville Jaguars Era (2017–2019)
Overton was signed by the Jacksonville Jaguars on August 3, 2017, after long snapper Carson Tinker suffered a torn ACL. He took over the snapping duties during the season but was placed on injured reserve on November 14, 2017, following a dislocated shoulder sustained after a Week 10 win over the Los Angeles Chargers. Jacksonville brought him back again on October 11, 2018, after Tinker suffered another knee injury, and he re-signed with the club on March 7, 2019. The Jaguars released Overton on September 1, 2019.
Los Angeles Chargers and Tennessee Titans Stints (2019–2021)
On November 15, 2019, Overton was signed by the Los Angeles Chargers, though the team released him three days later. He later joined the Tennessee Titans practice squad on October 12, 2020, and was elevated to the active roster multiple times during November 2020. On November 28, 2020, he was promoted to the active roster full time. Overton returned to the Los Angeles Chargers on August 16, 2021, continuing his pattern of bouncing between practice squads and active rosters.
Los Angeles Rams, Dallas Cowboys, and Chicago Bears (2022–2023)
On September 13, 2022, Overton signed with the Los Angeles Rams practice squad, but he was released a week later on September 20. He then joined the Dallas Cowboys’ practice squad on October 4, 2022, and was promoted to the active roster on October 15 after Jake McQuaide was lost for the year with a torn left tricep. Overton was not re-signed by Dallas after the 2022 season. On January 3, 2024, he signed with the Chicago Bears practice squad after Patrick Scales was injured, but he was not offered a reserve or future contract afterward and became a free agent.
Miami Dolphins Era (2024)
Overton signed with the Miami Dolphins practice squad on October 19, 2024. He started as long snapper for the team in a game against the Arizona Cardinals on October 28, 2024, but was released by the Dolphins on November 5, 2024. His time in Miami was brief, yet it kept him active in the league and demonstrated his continued willingness to contribute wherever a team needed a reliable snapper.
Notable Events and Milestones
Overton’s signature career milestone is his 2013 Pro Bowl selection with the Indianapolis Colts, a rare individual honor for a long snapper. He also reached the first UFL championship game with the Florida Tuskers in 2009 and was named to the UFL’s top-10 players list in 2010 with the Omaha Nighthawks. Through the 2024 season, he had appeared in 142 NFL regular-season games, recording 26 total tackles.
Matt Overton Career Wins
As a long snapper, individual win totals are not the standard measure of success, and detailed win counts for Overton in each league were not verifiable from the available sources. His impact is instead measured by longevity, Pro Bowl recognition, and the trust placed in him by multiple NFL organizations.
Other Wins and Performances
Overton helped the Florida Tuskers compile an undefeated regular season in 2009 and appear in the first UFL championship game. He also contributed on special teams for several playoff-contending Colts teams from 2012 through 2016, including seasons in which Indianapolis reached the postseason.
Matt Overton Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Overton is a Christian, and he is married to Breanna Overton. Together, they have two daughters, and his family has been a central part of his life as he has moved between professional teams over the years.
Charitable Work and Business Ventures
Beyond football, Overton runs his own youth charity foundation called Pros 2 Youth, which is focused on supporting young people in his community. He also co-owns a small business with former Omaha Nighthawks teammates Maurice Clarett and Chad Lucas called Led By Pros, based in Omaha, Nebraska. The venture offers a youth football academy and helps young athletes develop skills for success in both sport and life.
2025 Season Outlook
Heading into 2025, Overton was most recently active with the Miami Dolphins in late 2024 before being released on November 5, 2024. As a veteran long snapper with 142 career regular-season games and a Pro Bowl on his résumé, he remains an attractive option for teams in need of an experienced specialist. His pattern of in-season signings suggests he will likely pursue another practice squad or active roster opportunity in 2025, with potential fits on contending rosters that value special teams reliability.
Should Overton secure a roster spot, his role would remain focused on the field goal, extra point, and punt snapping duties he has performed throughout his career. At 40 years old, his continued presence in professional football underscores the value of consistency and accuracy in the long snapper position. The 2025 season represents another chance for him to extend a career that has already spanned nearly two decades.