Matt Ware life and biography

Matthew Ware is an American football defensive back for the Arizona Cardinals in the National Football League. He was drafted in the third round with the 89th pick in the 2004 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles.

Pro Career:
Originally a third-round pick (89th overall) by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 2004 NFL Draft. Released by the Eagles on 9/2/06 and claimed by the Cardinals the next day. Signed a two-year contract with Arizona on 3/31/08. Re-signed with Arizona on 4/6/10, inking a one-year contract as an unrestricted free agent.

2009: Played in 11 games with one start and had a career-high 27 tackles and first career INT before being placed on injured reserve (knee) on 12/16 … registered one special teams tackle before leaving the game in the fourth quarter with a shoulder injury vs. SF (9/13) … inactive (shoulder) for the next two games … totaled four tackles vs. Hou (10/11) … with 4:03 left in the 4th quarter, forced a fumble that was recovered by Adrian Wilson at the AZ 42-yard line @ NYG (10/25); marked third career forced fumble and first since 9/24/06 @ StL … in 75th career game, tied season-high with four tackles vs. Car (11/1); the second most of his career … registered three tackles and first career INT @ Chi (11/8); INT came with the Bears trailing by 13 points with just under seven minutes remaining, sealing the victory for Arizona … registered two tackles vs. Sea (11/15); with 16 tackles in seven games played, surpassed old career-high of 15 set in 16 games in 2005 … tied season-high with four tackles and recorded one pass defensed @ Ten (11/29) … in 80th career game made first start of the season as part of six DB formation and recorded four tackles vs. Min (12/6) … registered one special teams tackle before a knee injury forced him to leave the game early in the 1st quarter @ SF (12/14) … placed on injured reserve (knee) on 12/16.

2008: Started one of 13 regular season games played and appeared in all four postseason games despite dealing with injuries towards the end of the season ... in the season opener recovered a pooch kickoff in the third quarter @ SF (9/7); the recovery led to a Cardinals TD and the game winning points ... made second career start as part of six DB package and totaled four tackles as well as one QB hit @ NYJ (9/28) ... recorded season-high three special teams tackles, three solo tackles and one tackle for loss when he chased down QB Tony Romo after a botched snap on third down late in the third quarter vs. Dal (10/12) ... totaled season-high three special teams tackles vs. SF (11/10) ... saw time at CB after Rod Hood left the game in the second quarter due to an injury and registered one tackle @ Sea (11/16) ... inactive (head) @ Phi (11/27) and vs. StL (12/7) ... in 70th career game, tied career-high with five tackles and one QB hit before leaving the game with a strained calf @ NE (12/21) ... played in second career Super Bowl vs. Pit (2/1/09) after losing to the Patriots in 2004 as a member of the Eagles.

2007: Saw action in 15 games for Arizona, recording 12 tackles and seven special teams tackles … inactive for week three contest @ Bal (9/23) … appeared on special teams and saw action on defense vs. Pit (9/30) … recorded one special teams tackle and saw limited action on defense @ StL (10/7) … in 50th career game, recorded first three tackles of the season vs. Det (11/11) … with SS Adrian Wilson out (IR-heel) saw increased role down the stretch, registering at least one tackle and one special teams tackle in five of the last seven games.

2006: Appeared in 14 games for Arizona and earned his first NFL start vs. StL (9/24) … saw extensive action as a reserve CB, garnering two tackles @ Sea (9/17); entered the game at right CB when Eric Green left with an injury … received the first start of his career at right CB, collecting four tackles, one pass defensed and a forced fumble vs. StL (9/24) … inactive vs. KC (10/8) … appeared on special teams, recording one tackle vs. Chi (10/16) … inactive (shoulder) @ GB (10/29); vs. Dal (11/12) … recorded two special teams tackles @ StL (12/3) … collected a game-high three special teams tackles vs. Den (12/17) … recorded two special teams tackles @ SF (12/24); @ SD (12/31).

2005: Provided the Eagles one of their most memorable wins after picking up a blocked FG and returning it 65 yards for the game-winning TD vs. SD (10/23); down 17-13 with only 2:37 left in regulation, Quintin Mikell blocked a 40-yard FG attempt by the Chargers Nate Kaeding and Ware’s TD return provided the game’s final points; it marked the first time in Eagles history that an opponent’s FG was blocked and returned for a TD … ranked second in special teams unit production points (169) and fourth in tackles (17) … recovered a fumble on special teams that led to an Eagles TD vs. GB (11/27).

2004: Finished tied for fifth on the team in special teams tackles (15) and sixth in production points
(132) … saw first NFL game action vs. Car (10/17) and recorded one tackle on defense and special teams … notched a career-high five tackles with one forced fumble and one fumble recovery @ StL (12/27) … recorded four solo tackles in Super Bowl XXXIX vs. NE (2/6/05).

College:
A three-year starter for the Bruins at both cornerback and free safety … recorded 117 tackles, one sack, eight INTs and two blocked kicks during his career … in 2001 became the first true freshman to start every game and was named Pac-10 freshman of the year by The Sporting News … switched to FS for the first three games of 2002 before returning back to CB … despite the position change earned first-team All-Pac 10 honors with a career-high 51 tackles, one INT, one sack, two forced fumbles and a blocked punt.

Personal:
Full name Matthew Jesse Ware … attended Loyola (Los Angeles, CA) High School … earned USA Today and Parade All-America honors … named the LA Times All-Central City player of the year … as a senior passed for over 1,000 yards and 16 TDs and rushed for 1,161 yards and 17 more TDs … added 59 tackles, four INTs and six forced fumbles on defense … also lettered in track and baseball … selected in the 21st round of the 2001 Major League Baseball Draft by the Seattle Mariners as a centerfielder; spent the summers of 2002 and 2003 in the Valley playing centerfield for the Peoria Mariners of MLB’s rookie league … brother, Aaron, played strong safety at UCLA … Matt and his wife, Dana, have one daughter, Jaiden.

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