Ross Matiscik Bio
Ross Matiscik (born September 13, 1996) is an American professional football long snapper for the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 feet 0 inches tall and weighing around 240 pounds, he plays a specialized but vital role on special teams units. He played college football for the Baylor Bears before entering the league as an undrafted free agent in 2020.
Since joining the Jaguars, Matiscik has developed into one of the most respected long snappers in professional football. He has earned multiple All-Pro selections and Pro Bowl invitations, establishing himself as a long-term building block for the Jacksonville franchise. His career arc, from walk-on college player to league-recognized specialist, reflects steady development and consistent performance.
Early Life and Background
Ross Matiscik was born on September 13, 1996, in Youngstown, Ohio. He later grew up in McKinney, Texas, where he attended McKinney Boyd High School. The move from Ohio to Texas shaped his early athletic environment, giving him the chance to compete in one of the country’s strongest high school football regions.
At McKinney Boyd, Matiscik played both baseball and football, becoming a three-year letter winner in football. He lined up primarily on offense as a lineman and on defense as a linebacker, with his strongest contributions coming at middle linebacker. As a senior, he earned all-state honors at linebacker and was named District 6-6A Defensive MVP, finishing his high school career with 233 tackles, 12 sacks, 4 interceptions, and a blocked field goal. Despite that production, he was not recruited by any Division I college programs.
Path to the NFL
After high school, Matiscik joined the Baylor Bears football program in 2015. Because no Division I program offered him a scholarship, he entered the program as a walk-on, showing his determination to continue playing football at a high level. He redshirted his first year in Waco, using that season to adjust to the college game and add strength.
During his redshirt season, Baylor’s coaching staff moved Matiscik to the long snapper position. The switch gave him a clearer path to the field and he responded by becoming Baylor’s primary long snapper for four seasons, while also serving as a reserve linebacker for the Bears. By the time he finished his college career in 2019, he had logged five total seasons in the program and developed a strong résumé at the specialist role that would eventually take him to the pros.
Ross Matiscik Career
Early Career (2020–2021)
Matiscik signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars as an undrafted free agent on April 26, 2020. He entered a crowded training camp and won the long snapper job, beating out incumbent Matthew Orzech to make the 53-man roster. His NFL debut came on September 13, 2020, against the Indianapolis Colts, beginning what would become a steady run of regular-season appearances.
Through his first two seasons, Matiscik focused on consistency and reliability, two traits that define the long snapper position. By the end of the 2021 campaign, he had settled in as the Jaguars’ long-term answer at the position. On April 29, 2022, he signed a five-year, $5.965 million contract extension that runs through the 2026 season, signaling the organization’s belief in him.
NFL Breakthrough (2022–2023)
After his extension, Matiscik entered the 2022 season with long-term security and continued to grow into one of the league’s most dependable snappers. He delivered accurate snaps on punts, field goals, and extra points while remaining durable through a full 17-game schedule. His quiet, technical work became a stabilizing factor for the Jaguars’ special teams units.
The 2023 season marked the true national breakthrough. On January 3, 2024, Matiscik was selected to his first Pro Bowl. He was also named to the All-Pro First Team by both the NFL Players Association and the Associated Press, recognition driven by a season in which he led all long snappers with 8 total tackles and added a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. The award haul confirmed his arrival as a top-tier specialist.
Jacksonville Jaguars Era (2024–Present)
Matiscik built on his 2023 recognition during the 2024 season, earning his second consecutive Pro Bowl invitation and another NFLPA All-Pro First-Team nod. He also added an Associated Press Second-Team All-Pro honor, underscoring the high level of play he had maintained. Through the early portion of the 2025 campaign, he continued to handle every snapping duty for the Jaguars without interruption.
In December 2025, Matiscik was named to his third consecutive Pro Bowl, further cementing his reputation. Jacksonville also rewarded his performance with a two-year, $3.8 million contract extension, making him the highest-paid long snapper in the NFL. That deal reinforced the franchise’s commitment to keeping its special teams core intact.
Driving Style and Strengths
Matiscik is praised for the consistency of his snapping motion and the speed of his release on both punt and placement plays. Coaches value his ability to deliver accurate snaps in varied weather and field conditions, and his open-field tackling has become a quiet asset for Jacksonville’s coverage units. His preparation habits and approach to practice have made him a trusted special teams piece.
Notable Events and Milestones
A signature milestone came on January 3, 2024, when Matiscik was selected to his first Pro Bowl, validating a long climb from undrafted free agent to league-recognized player. He added a second Pro Bowl in 2024 and a third in 2025, joining the All-Pro First Team in 2023 and 2025 and the Second Team in 2024. His career also features the unusual distinction of never having recorded a bad snap since his NFL debut.
Ross Matiscik Career Stats
Ross Matiscik has built his reputation on consistency rather than headline statistics, with steady contributions across multiple regular seasons in Jacksonville. Through the 2025 season, he had appeared in 101 NFL games, recording 22 total tackles, 1 forced fumble, and 1 fumble recovery while serving as the Jaguars’ primary long snapper. His awards résumé includes 2 First-Team All-Pro selections, 1 Second-Team All-Pro selection, and 3 Pro Bowl selections between 2023 and 2025.
Ross Matiscik Family
Family Background and Football Lineage
Ross Matiscik comes from a family with a direct connection to football and the long snapper position. His brother, Brent Matiscik, played four years as a long snapper for the TCU Horned Frogs and was signed by the Cleveland Browns as an undrafted free agent. That shared path underscores a family background shaped by the specialized craft of snapping.
Personal Life
Ross Matiscik is an American professional athlete who grew up in McKinney, Texas after being born in Youngstown, Ohio. Public information about his personal life focuses on his football career and his connection to his brother Brent. He remains active on social media, where fans can follow his professional updates.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season continued Ross Matiscik’s run as one of the league’s most reliable long snappers. He played a full role in the Jaguars’ special teams operation, handling snaps on punts, field goals, and extra points while contributing in coverage. His steady presence helped stabilize a Jacksonville unit that relied on consistency in the kicking game.
On December 23, 2025, Matiscik was named to his third consecutive Pro Bowl, adding to his 2023 and 2024 selections. He also earned First-Team All-Pro recognition for the 2025 campaign, placing him among the very top specialists in the NFL once again. The season further reinforced his standing as a foundational piece of the Jaguars’ roster.
During the 2025 season, Jacksonville rewarded Matiscik with a two-year, $3.8 million contract extension, a move that made him the highest-paid long snapper in the league. That financial commitment reflected both his on-field production and his leadership within the special teams room. Heading into the rest of the year, his outlook remains strong as he continues to anchor the Jaguars’ kicking game.