Matt Hasselbeck
Matt Hasselbeck
Matthew Michael Hasselbeck is a former American football quarterback and current analyst for ESPN's Sunday NFL Countdown. He was drafted in the sixth round of the 1998 NFL Draft by the Green Bay Packers. After a season on the practice squad and two seasons backing up Brett Favre, he was traded to the Seattle Seahawks in 2001. Hasselbeck led Seattle to six playoff appearances and a Super Bowl. He was selected to three Pro Bowls and was an All-Pro in...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionFootball Player
Date of Birth25 September 1975
CityBoulder, CO
CountryUnited States of America
I would say I'm very surprised it went down the way it did. I thought it was a possibility, but when I left for vacation, I definitely didn't think I would come back as not a member of the Titans. But we had a difference of the opinion somewhere along the way.
They could have brought in a bunch of different guys in 2001, (but) they chose me. I don't take that lightly.
It was like an away game for us. It was 90 percent Steelers fans and 10 percent Seahawks fans.
He's just a veteran, he's a pro, he gets it. You're out there and it's loud, and he's recognizing the defense along with you.
It was like an away game for us. If 90 percent of them were Steelers fans, 10 percent were Seahawks fans, and I thought the Seahawks fans were as loud if not louder at times.
It was like an away game for us, there's no question about that. But if there were 90 percent Steelers fans and 10 percent Seahawks fans, I thought at least the Seahawks fans were just as loud, if not louder at times. I give those Seahawks fans a lot of credit. They did a great job.
I wasn't scared we were going to give it away or anything like that.
I don't overlook them; I think they're great. Our field position has been great all year, and our defense has created turnovers.
He said basically, if you want to make it in this league, you have to forget all that stuff or you're going to end up like this guy, this guy and this guy who never made it because they couldn't handle it.
I didn't read into it like other people did. Guess what? We're going to go out and try and win this game. Sorry, we're not going to just go out and lay down.
Hey, we simply didn't play well enough to win. We can't blame this loss on the calls out there.
I think most of us are just really worried for him. You realize that the choices you make are important and there are consequences to some decisions -- and that off-the-field issues are very important.
It's a great feeling in our locker room right now, because we did come together. There is something a little bit more special about fighting through adversity and hanging in there in a tough game against a really good defense. Guys get hurt. Pork Chop Womack filled in at left tackle for Walter Jones for a couple of plays. He said something like, 'Did I make you nervous in there when Walt was out?' I told him no.
My teammates and I have just seen a glimpse of what it would be like to win a world championship. And as hard as it is right now -- 'cause it's hard right now -- we know what needs to happen to get it done, and I can promise you that we are all going to do everything we can do to get it done next year. Thank you for your support this year!