A towering 6-foot-8 tackle whose North Dakota offensive line led the FCS in fewest sacks allowed, Matt Waletzko is now fighting for a foothold on Kansas City's roster.
Matt Waletzko has spent his NFL career trying to convert elite size and college production into a steady role in the trenches. After a winding path through three organizations, he landed with the Chiefs on a reserve/future contract, looking to carve out a niche as a backup tackle.
Path to the league
Waletzko starred at North Dakota from 2018 to 2021, anchoring an offensive line that ranked among the best pass-protecting units in the FCS. The Dallas Cowboys drafted him in the fifth round (155th overall) of the 2022 NFL Draft on the strength of his rare 6-foot-8 frame and college tape.
Career highlights
At North Dakota, Waletzko earned first-team All-Missouri Valley Football Conference honors in 2021 and second-team recognition in 2020, helping his line lead the FCS in sacks allowed during both his junior and senior seasons. In the NFL, he has mostly contributed on special teams while working through recurring shoulder injuries that have limited his availability.
2025 season recap
Waletzko spent the summer with Dallas but was released on August 2, 2025, after a positional move to guard did not stick. He caught on with the Minnesota Vikings' practice squad before signing with Kansas City's practice squad on December 3, 2025, and later locking in a reserve/future contract in January 2026.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Matt Waletzko
- ESPN: Matt Waletzko
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Offensive Tackle
- Group
- offense
- College
- North Dakota
- Hometown
- Cold Spring, MN, USA
- Age
- 26
- Status
- active
