A former Pitt tackle who reinvented himself as a full-time NFL guard, Matt Goncalves started all 17 games for Indianapolis in his second season.
Matt Goncalves is an offensive lineman who arrived in the NFL as a tackle prospect out of Pittsburgh but found his footing as a starting guard for the Colts. A third-round pick in 2024, he moved inside before the 2025 season and held down a full-time starting job.
Path to the league
Goncalves started at both left and right tackle across his career at Pittsburgh, earning Freshman All-American honors in 2020 and a preseason All-ACC nod entering his senior year before a lower-body injury cut that final season short. The Colts selected him with the 79th overall pick in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft.
Career highlights
Goncalves barely played guard in college or during his rookie season, taking just one snap there in 2024, before the Colts moved him to right guard full-time after Will Fries left in free agency. He responded by starting all 17 games at the position in 2025.
2025 season recap
In his first season as a full-time guard, Goncalves played 1,008 snaps and started every game for Indianapolis, ranking 32nd among 83 eligible guards in PFF's run-blocking grade while surrendering 34 pressures and two sacks in pass protection. He spent the following offseason training with six-time Pro Bowler Olin Kreutz and adding lean mass to improve against interior defenders.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Matt Goncalves
- ESPN: Matt Goncalves
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Guard
- Group
- offense
- College
- Pittsburgh
- Hometown
- Manorville, NY, USA
- Age
- 25
- Status
- active
