Matt Spaeth, an American football tight end, was born on November 24, 1983, in St. Michael, Minnesota. He graduated from St. Michael-Albertville High School in 2002, where he excelled in both football and basketball. During his time at St. Michael-Albertville, which competed in the Wright County Conference, Spaeth established multiple school records in basketball. He was a three-year starting player and set notable records including eight steals in a game, 23 rebounds in a single game, 1,359 career points, and 804 career rebounds.
Spaeth played college football at the University of Minnesota. During his freshman season in 2003, he began as a reserve tight end but earned a starting role after teammate Ben Utecht suffered an injury. That season, Spaeth started 10 games, recording 12 receptions for 98 yards, and was named to the Freshman All-American team by Rivals.com and Sporting News.
In the 2004 season, his performance improved with 24 catches for 298 yards and four touchdowns. By 2005, Spaeth was a consistent starter, finishing the year with 26 receptions for 333 yards and four touchdowns. He was named to the All-Big Ten First Team.
The 2006 season was the most outstanding of Spaeth's collegiate career. Despite suffering a separated shoulder, he managed to record a career-high 47 receptions and 564 receiving yards. He was once again named to the All-Big Ten First Team and earned First Team All-American honors. Spaeth also received the prestigious John Mackey Award as the nation’s best tight end and was awarded the Bronko Nagurski Award as the team’s Most Valuable Player. However, due to his shoulder injury, he was unable to participate in the Insight Bowl.
Spaeth was invited to the NFL Scouting Combine, where he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.83 seconds. In the 2007 NFL Draft, he was selected in the third round by the Pittsburgh Steelers. He began his professional career playing primarily on special teams and in goal-line situations. His first NFL reception resulted in a touchdown from quarterback Ben Roethlisberger in a game against the Cleveland Browns.
Following an injury to starting tight end Jerame Tuman, Spaeth was elevated to the role of second-string tight end. Spaeth later signed with the Chicago Bears, where he played until his release on March 13, 2013. He returned to the Pittsburgh Steelers and eventually retired from professional football on December 8, 2016. Although he contributed to the Steelers during their Super Bowl-winning seasons, he was not part of the roster for Super Bowl XX. Instead, he was on the team when they won Super Bowl XLIII in 2009.
Throughout his NFL career, Matt Spaeth earned an estimated salary of approximately $1.9 million per year at the peak of his contracts. His net worth is estimated at around $1.5 million, attributed primarily to his professional football tenure.
As a standout tight end from the University of Minnesota and an NFL draftee in 2007, Spaeth kept much of his personal life private. There is little public information available regarding his relationships or marital status.
| Birth Date: | 24 Nov, 1983 |
| Age: | 36 yrs |
| Occupations: | American football player |
| Citizenship: | United States of America |
| Birth Place: | St. Michael |
| Education: | St. Michael-Albertville High School |
| Gender: | Male |
| Description: | Player of American football |
| Net Worth 2021: | 16 million |
