Matt Sokol Bio
Matthew Ryan Sokol is an American professional football tight end for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Michigan State Spartans and began his career as an undrafted free agent, landing his first roster spot in 2020 with the Los Angeles Chargers. Standing 196 cm tall and listed at 113 kg, Sokol has spent his professional career moving between active rosters and practice squads across the league.
Born on November 9, 1995, Sokol is a depth tight end and special teams contributor known for his willingness to do the unglamorous work that keeps an offense moving. He returned to the Pittsburgh Steelers in September 2025, continuing a journeyman career that has taken him through seven organizations since 2019.
Early Life and Background
Matthew Ryan Sokol was born on November 9, 1995, in Rochester, Michigan, United States. He grew up in the Rochester area, a northern suburb of Detroit known for producing a steady stream of college football talent. His size and frame became apparent early, eventually leading him to play tight end at the high school level.
Sokol attended Adams High School in Rochester, Michigan, where he developed into a college prospect. He played tight end for the Adams football program, refining the blocking and receiving skills that would later define his professional profile. His time at Adams prepared him for the jump to Big Ten football.
After high school, Sokol committed to Michigan State University, joining the Spartans football program. He spent his college career in East Lansing, learning the offensive scheme and physical style that have long been associated with Michigan State football. His development there set the stage for an NFL opportunity.
Path to American Football
Sokol’s route to the NFL ran directly through Michigan State, where he earned a roster spot as a tight end in the Spartans’ pro-style offense. The program gave him exposure to NFL-level coaching and a full complement of run- and pass-blocking reps, both critical for a tight end prospect. By the time his senior season ended, he had the size and fundamentals to attract professional interest.
Despite that preparation, Sokol went unselected in the 2019 NFL Draft. His path to a professional contract began almost immediately after the draft concluded, when he signed with the Los Angeles Chargers as an undrafted free agent on April 27, 2019. From that point on, his career has been defined by persistence and the ability to land on practice squads when active-roster chances disappeared.
Matt Sokol Career
Early Career (2019–2020)
Sokol’s professional career began in 2019 with the Los Angeles Chargers, who signed him as an undrafted free agent following the 2019 NFL Draft. He was waived during final roster cuts on August 31, 2019, and quickly signed to the team’s practice squad. After a brief release in September, he was re-signed and released again in October, closing out his first stint with the Chargers.
On November 18, 2019, Sokol joined the Jacksonville Jaguars’ practice squad, gaining another set of inside looks at a professional meeting room. He then signed a reserve/future contract with the Detroit Lions on December 31, 2019, giving him a path to compete for a 2020 roster spot. That opportunity was short-lived, however, as he was waived during final cuts in September 2020 before being signed to and released from the Lions’ practice squad later that fall.
Los Angeles Chargers Breakthrough (2020–2021)
Sokol re-signed with the Los Angeles Chargers’ practice squad on October 31, 2020, beginning what would become his most sustained NFL run to that point. On December 26, 2020, he was elevated to the active roster for the team’s Week 16 game against the Denver Broncos, then reverted to the practice squad afterward. His performance was strong enough that the Chargers promoted him to the active roster on January 1, 2021.
That promotion marked Sokol’s first extended time on an active 53-man roster. He spent the 2021 off-season and training camp with the Chargers before being waived on August 31, 2021. The stint established him as a viable in-line tight end and special teams option, laying the groundwork for subsequent opportunities around the league.
Jacksonville, Detroit, and New England (2021–2023)
After his release from the Chargers, Sokol re-signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars’ practice squad on September 2, 2021. He remained with the Jaguars for the rest of the 2021 season, continuing to develop his role as a depth tight end. On January 12, 2022, he signed a reserve/future contract with the Detroit Lions, only to be waived again on May 10, 2022.
On May 11, 2022, Sokol was claimed off waivers by the New England Patriots, giving him a fresh start in the AFC East. He was waived on August 30, 2022, and re-signed to the practice squad the next day, then signed a reserve/future contract on January 10, 2023. He was waived on August 29, 2023, and re-signed to the practice squad once more, but was not tendered a reserve/future deal for 2024, making him a free agent when his practice squad contract expired.
Pittsburgh Steelers Era (2024–Present)
Sokol signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers on July 30, 2024, beginning his first stint with the organization. He was waived on August 27, 2024, and later re-signed to the practice squad. After a release in September, he returned to the practice squad on November 6, 2024, finishing the year in the Steelers’ system.
On July 22, 2025, Sokol signed with the Buffalo Bills, but was waived on August 24, 2025, during roster trimming. He did not stay on the open market long: on September 17, 2025, he signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers’ practice squad, returning to the organization that had hosted him in 2024. His second Steelers stint has him positioned once again as a practice-squad tight end with a chance to be elevated when needed.
Driving Style and Strengths
Although tight end play is measured in blocking and receiving rather than driving, Sokol’s professional profile is built on physicality, dependable run-blocking, and the willingness to contribute on special teams. At 196 cm and 113 kg, he has the frame to hold up in-line against defensive ends and the mobility to work the middle of the field as a receiver. Coaches have consistently valued his preparation and practice habits, qualities that have allowed him to keep earning reserve/future contracts and practice-squad invitations across the league.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining moments of Sokol’s career came on December 26, 2020, when he was elevated from the Los Angeles Chargers’ practice squad to play against the Denver Broncos in Week 16. He followed that up with a promotion to the active roster on January 1, 2021, his first sustained time on a 53-man roster. His repeated ability to sign reserve/future contracts with multiple organizations, including Detroit, New England, Pittsburgh, and Buffalo, is itself a milestone for a player who entered the league as an undrafted free agent.
Matt Sokol Career Wins
As a practice-squad and rotational tight end, Matt Sokol has not accumulated a headline number of individual regular-season wins attributed to his personal statistics. His value has been measured more in roster survival and special-teams reliability than in box-score production. The verified milestones in his career so far center on his 2020 elevation with the Chargers and his repeated reserve/future contract signings across the NFL.
Other Wins & Performances
Sokol’s most notable on-field performance remains his December 26, 2020, elevation for the Chargers’ Week 16 game against the Denver Broncos, followed by his promotion to the active roster in January 2021. Beyond that, his performances have been steady rather than spectacular, anchoring practice squads in Jacksonville, New England, Pittsburgh, and Buffalo over the past four seasons.
Matt Sokol Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Verified public information about Matt Sokol’s parents and immediate family is limited. He was raised in the Rochester, Michigan, area and attended Adams High School, where his football foundation was built. There is no widely confirmed public record of a professional sports lineage in his family.
Personal Life
Sokol keeps his personal life largely out of the public eye, and there is no confirmed public information regarding a spouse or children. He has been based around NFL cities throughout his career, most recently in the Pittsburgh area during his 2024 and 2025 stints with the Steelers. He maintains an active presence on Instagram under the handle @mattsokol_.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season began with a short stint on the Buffalo Bills’ roster. Sokol signed with Buffalo on July 22, 2025, but was waived on August 24, 2025, as the team finalized its regular-season group. The release kept him in the pool of available tight ends, and another opportunity arrived quickly.
On September 17, 2025, Sokol signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers’ practice squad, marking his return to the organization that hosted him in 2024. He remains available to be elevated to the active roster as needed during the season, particularly given the physical demands of the tight end position.
Looking ahead through the rest of 2025, Sokol’s outlook is the same as it has been throughout his career: compete on the practice squad, stay ready for elevation, and contribute on special teams when called upon. His familiarity with the Steelers’ system from 2024 should make that transition smoother, and his experience across multiple organizations gives him a steady professional footing heading into the season’s second half.