Matt Waletzko Bio
Matt Waletzko (born December 15, 1999) is an American professional football offensive tackle for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) and listed at 305 lb (138 kg), Waletzko plays the tackle position and has spent his entire professional career in the league since being drafted in 2022. Before turning professional, he played college football for the North Dakota Fighting Hawks, where he developed into one of the top offensive linemen in the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC).
Originally a fifth-round selection by the Dallas Cowboys, Waletzko has also had stints with the Minnesota Vikings before joining the Kansas City Chiefs. He wears jersey number 73 and is currently listed as an active member of the Chiefs roster.
Early Life and Background
Matt Waletzko was born on December 15, 1999, in Cold Spring, Minnesota, a small city located in the central part of the state. He grew up in that same community and attended Rocori High School, where he played football for the local Spartans. During his senior season, he was used as a two-way player, giving him early experience on both sides of the ball before focusing on the offensive line at the college level.
Cold Spring has a strong football tradition, and Waletzko’s development at Rocori helped him earn attention from college programs. His combination of size and athleticism made him a notable recruit coming out of high school, and he ultimately chose to continue his football career at the University of North Dakota, a program competing in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS).
Path to American Football
Waletzko joined the North Dakota Fighting Hawks in 2018, beginning his college career as a true freshman. The program pulled his redshirt designation that year, allowing him to appear in nine games and start the final five contests of the season at left tackle. This early opportunity gave him valuable starting experience as an underclassman.
During his sophomore season, Waletzko started the first six games before suffering a torn left ACL, which ended his year. He returned for his junior season, which was shortened and played in the spring of 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and he started all seven games while earning second-team All-MVFC honors. As a senior in 2021, he started ten games before missing the finale with a left shoulder injury, and he was named first-team All-MVFC. His play on an offensive line that led the FCS in sacks allowed helped establish him as a legitimate NFL prospect entering the 2022 draft.
Matt Waletzko Career
Early Career (2022)
The Dallas Cowboys selected Matt Waletzko in the fifth round, 155th overall, of the 2022 NFL draft, using a pick acquired in the trade that sent Amari Cooper to the Cleveland Browns. He was given a chance to compete with second-year player Josh Ball for the reserve swing tackle role, but a shoulder subluxation early in training camp limited his preseason work. He appeared in the third preseason game against the Seattle Seahawks before the injury required surgery.
As a rookie, Waletzko played mostly on special teams during the first three weeks of the season. His lone offensive snap came on a play that helped running back Ezekiel Elliott score a one-yard touchdown in a 23–16 win over the New York Giants. A second left shoulder subluxation during practice for the seventh game led to his placement on injured reserve on October 22, 2022.
Dallas Cowboys (2022–2024)
Waletzko returned to action in 2023 but was again placed on injured reserve on August 30 with a shoulder injury. He was activated on December 27, 2023, and appeared in one game as a backup in the season finale against the Washington Commanders, while being declared inactive for the Week 17 matchup against the Detroit Lions. His limited appearances that year reflected the challenge of staying healthy through his first two professional seasons.
In 2024, Waletzko appeared in seven games as a backup, playing mainly on special teams, and was declared inactive in ten contests. He entered 2025 without notable improvements and was moved to offensive guard during the preseason. On August 2, 2025, he was waived or injured by the Cowboys, ending his three-year tenure with the organization where he had been drafted.
Minnesota Vikings (2025)
On September 30, 2025, Waletzko signed with the Minnesota Vikings’ practice squad, looking for a fresh opportunity after his release from Dallas. He remained with the Vikings’ practice unit for just over a week before being released from the practice squad on October 7, 2025. His brief stay in Minnesota was limited to practice work and did not result in a regular-season game appearance for the team.
Kansas City Chiefs Era (2025–Present)
On December 3, 2025, Matt Waletzko signed with the Kansas City Chiefs’ practice squad, joining one of the league’s most successful recent franchises. He later signed a reserve or future contract with Kansas City on January 5, 2026, securing his place with the organization heading into the next league year.
Currently listed as an active member of the Kansas City Chiefs roster wearing number 73, Waletzko enters this new chapter of his career looking to build on the experience gained through his early professional seasons. The move to Kansas City represents an opportunity to compete for a depth role on an offensive line that has consistently performed at a championship level in recent years.
Notable Events and Milestones
Waletzko’s professional career has been marked as much by perseverance as by athletic achievement. Being drafted in the fifth round by the Dallas Cowboys in 2022 stands as a defining milestone, along with earning first-team All-MVFC honors during his senior season at North Dakota. The repeated shoulder setbacks that led to injured reserve stints in both 2022 and 2023 tested his resolve, while his transitions to the Minnesota Vikings and Kansas City Chiefs practice squads in 2025 reflected his determination to continue his NFL career. Signing a reserve or future contract with the Chiefs in early 2026 represented the latest step in that ongoing journey.
Matt Waletzko Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Matt Waletzko’s parents and broader family is limited. He grew up in Cold Spring, Minnesota, and attended Rocori High School, where his development as a two-way senior helped launch his football career.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season represented a year of transition for Matt Waletzko. After spending training camp with the Dallas Cowboys, where he was moved to offensive guard, he was waived or injured on August 2. He signed with the Minnesota Vikings’ practice squad on September 30 before being released on October 7, and ultimately landed with the Kansas City Chiefs’ practice squad on December 3. Across the regular season, his appearances were limited to practice work rather than game action with his new teams.
Despite the lack of in-game opportunities, Waletzko showed resilience by securing a reserve or future contract with the Chiefs on January 5, 2026. That agreement gives him a chance to compete for a depth role along the offensive line in the upcoming league year and signals continued belief in his physical tools at 6 ft 8 in and 305 lb.
Looking ahead, Waletzko’s outlook will depend on staying healthy and refining his technique after multiple shoulder injuries earlier in his career. Joining a Chiefs organization with a strong offensive line tradition offers a stabilizing environment, and his mix of size and prior starting experience at left tackle in college could position him as a developmental swing tackle or guard candidate as he continues his professional journey.