Matt Light life and biography

Matt Light is an American football offensive tackle for the New England Patriots of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Patriots in the second round of the 2001 NFL Draft. He played college football at Purdue.

Matt Light was drafted by the New England Patriots in the second round (48th overall) of the 2001 NFL Draft ... Signed by the Patriots (7/22/01) ... Placed on injured reserve with an ankle injury (12/22/05).

Career Highlights

* Light has played in 124 games with 122 starts over nine seasons with New England (2001-09). His 124 games are the third highest total of any active player, trailing only Kevin Faulk (152) and Tom Brady (129).
* In his nine seasons in New England, Light has been a part of seven division championships, four conference titles and three Super Bowl crowns.
* In 2009, Light was part of an offensive line that allowed the fewest sacks (18) by a Patriots line since the NFL moved to a 16-game schedule in 1978.
* In 2008, Light started every game at left tackle as part of an offensive line that was a part of the best rushing season for the Patriots in more than 20 years in terms of rushing yards, rushing touchdowns and average yards per carry.
* Light was named to the Associated Press All-Pro first team in 2007, and earned AFC Pro Bowl honors in 2006 and 2007. He is one of four Patriots offensive tackles to earn Pro Bowl honors since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger, joining Patriots Hall of Famer Bruce Armstrong, Leon Gray and Brian Holloway.
* Light contributed to a Patriots offense that set all-time NFL records with 589 points and 75 touchdowns in 2007.
* Light was a part of an offensive line that enjoyed one of the most successful seasons in club history in 2004, paving the way for the team to average more than 4 yards per carry for the first time in 19 seasons and helping running back Corey Dillon set a single-season franchise record with 1,635 rushing yards.
* Light was a member of an offensive line that allowed Patriots' rushers to gain more than 200 rushing yards twice in 2004, 225 rushing yards against Cleveland (12/5/04) and 208 rushing yards against Buffalo (11/14/04), marking the first time in six years the team has exceeded 200 net yards rushing.
* Light was a part of a Patriots offensive line that allowed just 58 sacks from 2003-04. The two-year total is the best since New England allowed 57 sacks from 1995-96.
* Light started all three postseason games in 2003 as part of an offensive line that did not allow a sack in the playoffs as Tom Brady attempted 126 passes, and the Patriots claimed the Super Bowl XXXVIII championship.

2010 (9/9)
* Started at left tackle the first nine weeks of the season.
* Helped the Patriots become the first team in 2010 to record over 100 rushing yards (103) against a stingy Steelers defense, including a 17-yard rush by BenJarvus Green-Ellis that was the longest run by any player against the Steelers this season. Also helped power Tom Brady to 350 passing yards.
* Was part of an offensive line that helped BenJarvus Green-Ellis to a career-high 112 rushing yards and two touchdowns against the Vikings (10/31).
* Led an offensive line that helped the Patriots rushing attack register 200 yards, their highest single-game rushing total since Dec. 14, 2008.

2009 (11/11, 1/0)
* Made 11 starts at left tackle and was part of an offensive line that allowed the fewest sacks (18) by a Patriots line since the NFL moved to a 16-game schedule.
* Started at Denver (10/11) but left the game in the fourth quarter due to injury and missed the next five games, vs. Tennessee (10/18), at Tampa Bay (10/25), vs. Miami (11/8), at Indianapolis (11/15) and vs. New York Jets (11/22).
* Returned to the starting lineup at New Orleans (11/30).
* Started in the postseason game vs. Baltimore (1/10).
* Played on a line that helped the Patriots offense finish third in the NFL with an average of 397.3 yards per game, the second highest in team history to the 411.3 yards in 2007.

2008 (16/16)
* Voted an offensive team captain by his teammates for the first time.
* Started every game at left tackle as part of an offensive line that led the Patriots to 356 first downs in 2008, the second highest total in franchise history.
* Was a part of the best rushing season for the Patriots in more than 20 years, totaling 2,278 rushing yards (sixth in team history and the most since 1985), 21 rushing touchdowns (tied for fourth in team history and the most since 1981) and an average of 4.4 yards per carry (fifth in team history and the best since 1983).
* Helped the Patriots rank fifth in the NFL in total offense, averaging 365.4 yards per game - the third-best yards per game average in franchise history.
* Helped the Patriots record a franchise-best three games with 500 or more total net yards, with the team's 530 total net yards at Miami on Nov. 23 standing as the second highest for any game in franchise history.
* Played in his 100th career game while making the start at left tackle against Miami (9/21).
* Started his 100th career game at left tackle at San Diego (10/12).
* Started at left tackle and was part of an offensive line that helped Patriots runners to 257 rushing yards against Denver (10/20).
* Contributed key blocks on two crucial third-down conversions on screen passes to Kevin Faulk and Wes Welker, respectively, on the Patriots' game-winning touchdown drive at Seattle (12/7).
* Started at left tackle and was part of an offensive line that helped Matt Cassel to a career high four touchdown passes and led Patriots rushers to 277 yards on the ground, the team's highest single-game rushing total since 1985 at Oakland (12/14).

2007 (16/16, 3/3)
* Started in all 16 regular-season games at left tackle for the fifth time in his career.
* Earned his second straight Pro Bowl selection in 2007.
* Was part of a Patriots offensive line that allowed just 21 sacks, the fewest for the franchise in 30 years.
* Helped the Patriots set all-time records for points scored (589) as Tom Brady set an NFL record with 50 touchdown passes.
* Started at left tackle and anchored an offensive line that provided time for Tom Brady's franchise record six touchdown passes at Miami (10/21).
* Started at left tackle and was part of a line that led Laurence Maroney to his first 100-yard rushing game in the playoffs against Jacksonville (1/12).
* Helped Maroney to his second straight 100-plus yard rushing game in the Patriots' win over the San Diego Chargers in the AFC Championship Game (1/20).
* Started at left tackle in Super Bowl XLII (2/3).

2006 (16/16, 3/3)
* Started 16 regular season games and three playoff contests at left tackle.
* Was named to his first Pro Bowl.
* Helped pave the way for the Patriots to record 1,969 rushing yards, the team's second highest total in the last 18 years.
* Member of an offensive line that opened holes for Patriots' rushers to gain 183 rushing yards on 41 carries against Buffalo (9/10).
* Member of an offensive front that opened holes for Patriots' ball carriers to gain 238 rushing yards on 41 carries at Cincinnati (10/1).
* Was a member of an offensive front that gave Tom Brady enough time to throw for 372 yards and tie his then career high with four touchdown tosses at Minnesota (10/30).
* Part of an offensive line that allowed just two sacks despite 51 pass attempts in a divisional playoff game at San Diego (1/14). San Diego entered the game as the league leader in sacks.

2005 (3/3, 0/0)
* Started the first three games of the season.
* Placed on injured reserve with an ankle injury (12/22) and missed the remainder of the year.
* Had started 66 consecutive games at left tackle, including playoffs, before missing the San Diego matchup (10/2) with an injury.
* Member of an offensive line that did not allow a sack on 38 pass attempts in the season opener against Oakland (9/8).
* Started at left tackle but left the Pittsburgh game (9/25) in the first quarter with an ankle injury.

2004 (16/16, 3/3)
* Started all 16 games at left tackle for the third consecutive season.
* Helped the team average 4.1 yards per carry, the first time since 1985 that the team averaged more than four yards per rush.
* Member of an offensive line that allowed Patriots' rushers to gain more than 200 total rushing yards in two games (11/14 and 12/5), marking the first time in six years the team has exceeded 200 net yards rushing. The 225 rushing yards against Cleveland (12/5/04) were the most for the Patriots since 12/26/93.
* Part of an offensive line that allowed Patriots' rushers to amass 208 rushing yards against Buffalo (11/14). Part of an offensive line that allowed Patriots' ball carriers to amass 225 rushing yards against Cleveland (12/5), the most by New England in 11 years, since piling up 257 yards against Indianapolis on Dec. 26, 1993.
* Member of an offensive line that opened holes for Patriots' rushers to gain 210 yards on the ground on just 39 carries (5.4 avg.) in the divisional playoffs against Indianapolis (1/16), the second highest playoff rushing output in team history.
* Member of an offensive line that opened holes for Patriots' rushers to gain 112 yards on 28 carries in New England's 24-21 victory over the Eagles in Super Bowl XXXIX.

2003 (16/16, 3/3)
* Started all 16 games for the second consecutive season.
* Helped the ground attack exceed the century mark with more than 100 rushing yards in five of the first six weeks in 2003.
* Part of an offensive line that started the same five players in each of the last 12 games, all Patriots victories.
* Member of an offensive line that has allowed just 63 sacks over the last two seasons.
* Was a member of an offensive line that opened holes for Patriots rushers to gain a season-high 161 yards on 27 carries (6.0 avg.) and three touchdowns against Tennessee (10/5).
* Started at left tackle in the Patriots' 17-14 divisional playoff victory over the Titans (1/10). Member of an offensive line that did not allow a sack in 41 pass attempts.
* Started at left tackle in the Patriots' 24-14 AFC Championship victory over the Colts (1/18). Member of an offensive line that did not allow a sack in 37 pass attempts.
* Started at left tackle and was a member of an offensive line that did not allow a sack in the Patriots' Super Bowl XXXVIII victory over the Panthers.

2002 (16/16)
* Started all 16 games at left tackle and was part of a Patriots offensive line that did not allow a sack in four games in 2002, the first time the Patriots accomplished that feat since 1995.
* Offensive line yielded a total of just 31 sacks.
* Started at left tackle as part of an offensive line that allowed no sacks on 35 passing attempts and paved the way for a season-high 163 rushing yards in the Patriots' victory over the N.Y. Jets (9/15).
* Started at left tackle in the Patriots 27-24 overtime win over the Dolphins (12/29) in the season finale. Held Jason Taylor, the NFL's sack leader, to no sacks after Taylor had recorded one in each of his previous eight games.

2001 (14/12, 3/3)
* Started at left tackle in 12 of 14 regular season games and all three postseason games during his rookie season.
* Earned Football News 2001 NFL All-Rookie Team honors in 2001.
* Made first NFL start at left tackle and was part of an offensive line that blocked for rushing attack that accumulated 107 yards on 26 carries (4.1 avg.) against the N.Y. Jets (9/23).
* Part of an offensive line that opened holes for 123 yards rushing on 30 attempts (4.1 avg.) and did not allow a sack in 38-17 victory over the Colts (10/21).
* Helped power the offense to a season-high 196 yards rushing and their fourth 100 yard rusher of the season against Miami (12/22).
* Started at left tackle and was part of an offensive line that led the way for 133 yards on 25 carries (5.3 avg.) in the Patriots 20-17 victory in Super Bowl XXXVI.

College

* Light earned four letters at Purdue University (1996, 1998-2000).
* Charged with the responsibility of protecting Drew Brees' blind side from the left tackle position.
* Started all 37 Boilermaker games at tackle from 1998-2000.
* Leader of offensive line that allowed just 38 sacks on 1,690 pass attempts.
* Consensus All-Big Ten conference first-team (2000) and voted to second-team (1999).
* Helped the team to a Big Ten title and their first Rose Bowl appearance in 35 years as a senior in 2000. Appeared in seven games as a reserve tight end as a freshman and recorded one reception for 16 yards.

Personal

* Matthew Charles Light was born the son of William and Marilyn Light on June 23, 1978 in Greenville, Ohio.
* Second-team Division II all-state choice as a linebacker, adding All-Darke County, all-conference and All-Southwest District honors as a senior at Greenville (Ohio) High.
* Three-year, two-way starter who played guard as soph-omore, tackle as junior and tight end as senior.
* As a senior, he had 69 tackles, including 15 stops for 63 yards in losses, two fumbles caused and two pass break-ups.
* Added four catches for 75 yards with one touchdown.
* Majored in industrial technology at Purdue.
* In recognition of his many philanthropic endeavors and his commitment to having a positive impact their lives, Matt received the New England Patriots' Ron Burton Community Service Award in 2005.
* Served as the honorary ringmaster for the Big Apple Circus in 2008 in a fundraising performance to benefit the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp.
* In recognition of his outstanding work in the community, was presented with the President's Volunteer Service Award on Nov. 30, 2008 by Steve Preston, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.
* Was featured in a SoBe Water Commercial that aired during Super Bowl XLIII in Feb. 2009.
* His charitable foundation, The Light Foundation, was featured Showtime's "Inside The NFL" in 2009.
* Has his own website, mattlight72.com
* Matt and his wife, Susie, have three children; Collin, William and Gracie.

Extra
* The Light Foundation is dedicated to empowering young people through grants, scholarships and outdoor activities. In addition to raising and donating thousands of dollars each year, the foundation has conducted football camps for more than 800 children and workshops or programs for more than 1,000 others.
* Matt has purchased 200 acres in Greenville, Ohio to locate The Light Foundation's "Rules of 72" Outdoor Learning Facility, where youths of all shapes, sizes, abilities and backgrounds will enjoy outdoor activities.
* Matt's annual Matt Light Celebrity Shoot-Out, a clay-shooting tournament attended by many of his teammates, has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for charity since it was started in 2005.

Charitable - The Light Foundation

In February of 2003, Matt established the Light Foundation, a charity that awards scholarships to high school students in the places he has played football: his hometown of Greenville, Ohio, West Lafayette, Ind. and New England. Matt's foundation donated new weights, jerseys and equipment to his former high school team this past off-season.

Honors and Awards

2008 : President's Volunteer Service Award
2007 : Pro Bowl Starter ; Associated Press All-Pro: First Team ; Pro Football Weekly/PFWA All-NFL Team ; Pro Football Weekly/PFWA All-AFC Team ; USA Today All-Pro Team ; NFL.com All-Interview Team
2006 : Pro Bowl
2005 : New England Patriots Ron Burton Community Service Award
2004 : NFL.com's All-Interview Team
2001 : Football News All-Rookie Team

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