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Matt Milano
refer to caption
Milano in 2021
No. 58 – Buffalo Bills
Position: Linebacker
Personal information
Born: (1994-07-28) July 28, 1994 (age 29)
Commack, New York, U.S.
Height:6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:223 lb (101 kg)
Career information
High school: Dr. Phillips ( Orlando, Florida)
College: Boston College (2013–2016)
NFL draft: 2017 / Round: 5 / Pick: 163
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of 2023
Total tackles:488
Sacks:10.5
Forced fumbles:3
Fumble recoveries:9
Interceptions:10
Pass deflections:39
Defensive touchdowns:2
Player stats at NFL.com ·  PFR

Matthew Vincent Milano (born July 28, 1994) is an American football linebacker for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Boston College.

College career

Milano attended and played college football at Boston College under head coach Steve Addazio. [1] [2]

College statistics

Season Team GP Tackles Interceptions Fumbles
Cmb Solo Ast TfL Sck Int Yds Avg TD FR FF
2013 Boston College 4 5 4 1 0 0.0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0
2014 Boston College 7 18 15 3 3 1.0 0 0 0.0 0 2 0
2015 Boston College 12 58 46 12 17.5 6.5 0 0 0.0 0 1 2
2016 Boston College 13 59 42 17 12 6.5 1 19 19.0 1 1 0
Career 36 140 107 33 32.5 14.0 1 19 19.0 1 5 2

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
6 ft 0+12 in
(1.84 m)
223 lb
(101 kg)
32 in
(0.81 m)
9+38 in
(0.24 m)
4.67 s 1.65 s 2.72 s 35 in
(0.89 m)
10 ft 6 in
(3.20 m)
24 reps
All values from NFL Combine [3] [4]

2017

The Buffalo Bills selected Milano in the fifth round (163rd overall) of the 2017 NFL draft. [5] The pick used to draft him was given by the New England Patriots as compensation for the Patriots signing restricted free agent running back Mike Gillislee. [6] He was the first of two linebackers Buffalo selected, along with Boise State's Tanner Vallejo. [7]

On May 11, 2017, the Bills signed Milano to a four-year, $2.66 million contract that included a signing bonus of $261,506. [8]

Throughout training camp, Milano competed against veterans Ramon Humber and Gerald Hodges for the job as the starting weak side linebacker. [9] Head coach Sean McDermott named Milano the backup weakside linebacker behind Humber to begin the regular season. [10]

On October 8, 2017, Milano earned his first career start and recorded four combined tackles during a 20–16 loss at the Cincinnati Bengals. [11] He earned the start in place of strongside linebacker Ramon Humber, who was ruled inactive due to a broken hand suffered the previous week. [12] On October 22, 2017, he had an impressive performance in his second consecutive start, making five combined tackles, two tackles for a loss, a pass deflection, and recorded his first career interception in the Bills' 30–27 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. [13] His first career interception was off a pass attempt by Jameis Winston and he returned it 15 yards and received the game ball from head coach Sean McDermott. [14] In Week 8, Milano collected four combined tackles and scored his first career touchdown in the 34–14 win against the Oakland Raiders. [15] In the second quarter of that game, cornerback Leonard Johnson forced a fumble by Raiders' running back DeAndré Washington, that was recovered by Milano and returned 40 yards for a touchdown. [16] The following week, against the New York Jets, Humber resumed his starting role at weakside linebacker and Milano returned to a reserve role. [17]

On December 10, 2017, Milano was named the starting weakside linebacker over Humber and recorded a season-high 11 combined tackles in a 13–7 victory against the Indianapolis Colts. [18] The next day, defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier stated Milano would remain the starting weakside linebacker barring any unforeseen circumstances. [19] [20] During a Week 17 matchup at the Miami Dolphins, Milano recorded six combined tackles, but ultimately left the 22–16 victory after suffering a hamstring injury. [21] He was listed as inactive and missed the Bills 10–3 AFC Wild Card Round loss at the Jacksonville Jaguars. [22] [23] Milano finished his rookie season with 49 combined tackles (32 solo), two pass deflections, one interception, and a fumble recovery in 16 games and five starts. [24] [25]

2018

In Week 3, Milano recorded a sack, an interception, a fumble recovery, two passes defensed and eight tackles in a 27–6 win over the Minnesota Vikings, earning him AFC Defensive Player of the Week. [26] In Week 14, Milano suffered a broken fibula and underwent season-ending surgery. [27] He was placed on injured reserve on December 11, 2018. [28] Milano finished his second professional season with 78 combined tackles, one sack, and three interceptions. [29]

2019

Milano returned from injury, recording a career high 100 combined tackles along with 1.5 sacks and a forced fumble in 15 starts. [30] As Buffalo also returned to the playoffs, the team faced the Houston Texans in the Wild Card Round. [31] Milano had a game-high 12 tackles, but as the game went into overtime, Milano and Bills safety Siran Neal failed to sack Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson, who spun out of the tackle attempt and completed a pass which set up Houston's game-winning field goal, sealing a 22–19 Bills loss. [32] [33]

2020

In Week 1 against the Jets, Milano recorded his first interception of the season during the 27–17 win. [34] He was placed on injured reserve on November 7, 2020, after dealing with a pectoral injury since Week 4. [35] He was activated on December 7. [36] In the 2020 season, he appeared in ten games and started five. He finished with 3.5 sacks, 45 total tackles, one interception, and three passes defended. [37]

In the Bills' three postseason games, Milano started and had 25 total tackles and three passes defended. [38] [39] [40]

2021

On March 11, 2021, Milano signed a four-year, $44 million contract extension with the Bills. [41] [42] He recorded his first sack of the season in Buffalo's week 2 35–0 victory over the Dolphins. [43] He recorded a season-high nine tackles in week 10 during a 45–17 win over the Jets. [44] Milano finished the season with 86 total tackles, three sacks, a career-high 15 tackles for a loss and five passes defended, as Buffalo finished the season 11–6 and won the AFC East for the second consecutive season. [45] [46]

2022

In Week 2 against the Tennessee Titans, Milano recorded an interception off of Ryan Tannehill and returned it 43 yards for a touchdown in the 41–7 win. [47] In Week 11, he had 12 tackles, three for a loss, a sack, and a fumble recovery in a 31–23 win over the Cleveland Browns, earning AFC Defensive Player of the Week. [48] He finished the 2022 season with 1.5 sacks, 99 total tackles, three interceptions, and 11 passes defended. [49] He had an outstanding performance in Buffalo's two playoff games at the end of the season, racking up a total of 20 combined tackles and three sacks. [50] [51] Milano was named to the 2023 Pro Bowl Games after Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T. J. Watt forwent the games due to injury. [52] He earned first team All-Pro honors. [53]

2023

On March 12, 2023, Milano signed a two-year contract extension with the Bills, keeping him under contract through the 2026 season. [54]

In Week 5 against the Jaguars, Milano suffered a season-ending fractured leg injury in the 25-20 loss and was placed on injured reserve on October 11, 2023. [55]

NFL career statistics

Regular season

Year Team Games Tackles Interceptions Fumbles
GP GS Cmb Solo Ast Sck TfL Int Yds TD PD FF FR TD
2017 BUF 16 5 49 32 17 0.0 7 1 15 0 2 1 1 1
2018 BUF 13 13 78 52 26 1.0 12 3 41 0 7 0 3 0
2019 BUF 15 15 101 65 36 1.5 7 0 0 0 9 1 1 0
2020 BUF 10 5 45 35 10 3.5 4 1 0 0 3 0 0 0
2021 BUF 16 16 86 57 29 3.0 15 0 0 0 5 0 2 0
2022 BUF 15 15 99 72 27 1.5 12 3 84 1 11 0 2 0
2023 BUF 5 5 30 18 12 0.0 1 2 16 0 2 1 0 0
Career 90 74 488 331 157 10.5 58 10 156 1 39 3 9 1

Postseason

Year Team Games Tackles Interceptions Fumbles
GP GS Cmb Solo Ast Sck TfL Int Yds TD PD FF FR TD
2019 BUF 1 1 12 8 4 0.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2020 BUF 3 3 25 16 9 0.0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0
2021 BUF 2 2 16 10 6 0.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
2022 BUF 2 2 20 15 5 3.0 4 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
Career 8 8 73 49 24 3.0 5 0 0 0 5 0 0 0

References

  1. ^ Vega, Michael (September 11, 2015). "BC's Matt Milano passed first test as hybrid linebacker". The Boston Globe. Retrieved October 8, 2018.
  2. ^ Benbow, Julian (April 23, 2017). "BC's Matt Milano looking to make big jump". Boston Globe. Retrieved April 30, 2017.
  3. ^ "Matt Milano Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved January 28, 2018.
  4. ^ "2017 Draft Scout Matt Milano, Boston College NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile". draftscout.com. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
  5. ^ "2017 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
  6. ^ Hamilton, Jake (April 29, 2017). "Bills take two LBs late for special teams". BuffaloBills.com. Archived from the original on May 4, 2017. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
  7. ^ "2017 Buffalo Bills Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
  8. ^ "Spotrac.com: Matt Milano contract". Spotrac.com. Retrieved January 28, 2018.
  9. ^ Marasco, Canio (July 11, 2017). "Who will start at outside linebacker?". BuffaloBills.com. Archived from the original on January 29, 2018. Retrieved January 28, 2018.
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  12. ^ Quinn, Robert (October 3, 2017). "Bills' rookie LB Matt Milano to start in place of injured Ramon Humber". Bills Wire. USA Today. Retrieved January 28, 2018.
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  26. ^ Bergman, Jeremy (September 26, 2018). "Big Ben, Drew Brees among NFL Players of the Week". NFL.com. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
  27. ^ Dajani, Jordan (December 10, 2018). "LB Matt Milano out for season with broken fibula". 247Sports.com. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
  28. ^ Brown, Chris (December 11, 2018). "Bills place Matt Milano, Taron Johnson on I-R". BuffaloBills.com. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
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  30. ^ "Matt Milano 2019 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
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  32. ^ Guaghan, Mark (January 4, 2020). "Bills' Matt Milano on Texans' Deshaun Watson's great escape: 'We just missed the tackle'". The Buffalo News. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
  33. ^ Silver, Michael (January 5, 2020). "'Chill' Deshaun Watson ices Bills with epic play in Texans victory". NFL.com. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
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  42. ^ Louis-Jacques, Marcel (March 11, 2021). "Buffalo Bills sign LB Matt Milano to 4-year extension worth $44 million, source says". ESPN.com. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
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  47. ^ Werner, Barry (September 20, 2022). "Matt Milano with pick-six as Bills are demolishing Titans". Touchdown Wire. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
  48. ^ Gordon, Grant (November 23, 2022). "Cowboys RB Tony Pollard, Chiefs TE Travis Kelce highlight Players of the Week". NFL.com. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
  49. ^ "Matt Milano 2022 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
  50. ^ "Wild Card - Miami Dolphins at Buffalo Bills - January 15th, 2023". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
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  53. ^ "2022 NFL All-Pros". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
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  55. ^ Alper, Josh (October 11, 2023). "Bills put Matt Milano, DaQuan Jones on IR; sign A.J. Klein to active roster". NBC Sports. Retrieved October 11, 2023.

External links