Matthew Michael Hasselbeck was born on September 25, 1975, in Boulder, Colorado. He grew up in a sports-oriented family and attended Xaverian Brothers High School in Westwood, Massachusetts, where he played high school football alongside his brothers. Demonstrating talent and passion early on, Matt went on to attend Boston College. He played for the Boston College Eagles from 1994 to 1997, serving as the team's starting quarterback before his younger brother, Tim Hasselbeck, succeeded him in the role. Matt earned a degree in marketing and received honorable mention All-American recognition from USA Today during his senior year.

Professional Football Career

Matt Hasselbeck began his NFL career in 1998 when he was selected by the Green Bay Packers in the sixth round of the 1998 NFL Draft. Initially serving as a backup to Brett Favre, he gained valuable experience despite limited playing time. On March 2, 2001, he was traded to the Seattle Seahawks, where he flourished under head coach Mike Holmgren, who had previously worked with him in Green Bay.

Competing for playing time with Trent Dilfer early in his Seahawks tenure, Matt eventually secured the starting quarterback position. His performance improved markedly by the end of the 2002 season, leading to a strong start in 2003. During his decade with the Seahawks, Hasselbeck led the team to six playoff appearances and a trip to Super Bowl XL. He was named to three Pro Bowl teams and was selected as a second-team All-Pro in 2005. Hasselbeck was later named to the Seattle Seahawks 35th Anniversary Team in recognition of his contributions.