Matt Waletzko Bio
Matt Waletzko (born December 15, 1999) is an American professional football offensive tackle for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 feet 8 inches tall and listed around 138 kilograms, he plays a premium position along the offensive line. After playing college football for the North Dakota Fighting Hawks, he entered the league as a fifth-round draft pick and has spent his professional career developing into a reserve tackle and special-teams contributor.
Early Life and Background
Matt Waletzko grew up in Cold Spring, Minnesota, a small Central Minnesota community known for its strong high-school sports culture. He attended Rocori High School, where he developed into a Division I-caliber prospect along the offensive line. As a senior, Waletzko was a two-way player, lining up on both offense and defense and showcasing the athletic versatility that would later catch the attention of college recruiters.
Coming from a tight-knit town, Waletzko leaned on his local roots as motivation through the rigors of his early football career. His combination of size, length, and movement skills made him an attractive target for Football Championship Subdivision programs looking to develop offensive linemen. Those traits ultimately carried him to the University of North Dakota, where his pathway to professional football would begin.
Path to American Football
Waletzko’s path to the NFL started at the University of North Dakota, where he joined the Fighting Hawks and quickly saw the field. As a true freshman, the program pulled his redshirt designation, allowing him to play in nine games and start the final five contests of the season at left tackle, an unusually accelerated start for a young offensive lineman.
His sophomore season was halted by a torn left ACL, but Waletzko returned to start all seven games of UND’s COVID-shortened junior season in the spring of 2021. That year, he earned second-team All-Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) recognition while helping an offensive line that led the Football Championship Subdivision in sacks allowed and the nation in fewest negative plays. In his senior season, he started the first ten games before a left shoulder injury cut his campaign short, and he was named first-team All-MVFC. Those performances set the stage for his selection in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Matt Waletzko Career
Early Career (2022–2023)
Waletzko was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the fifth round (155th overall) of the 2022 NFL Draft, a pick previously obtained in the trade that sent Amari Cooper to the Cleveland Browns. He entered a crowded offensive line room and was given a chance to compete with second-year player Josh Ball for the reserve swing tackle position. A lingering shoulder issue resurfaced early in training camp, leading to surgery and forcing him to miss most of the preseason.
He made his NFL debut on special teams, appearing in the early weeks of the 2022 regular season before a second shoulder subluxation sent him to injured reserve on October 22, 2022. Waletzko began 2023 on injured reserve with another shoulder issue, was activated on December 27, 2023, and appeared in one game as a backup in the season finale against the Washington Commanders.
Dallas Cowboys Era (2022–2025)
Waletzko’s tenure in Dallas was defined more by perseverance than by volume production. In 2024, he appeared in seven games as a backup, playing mainly on special teams and being declared inactive in ten contests. Going into 2025, the Cowboys moved him to offensive guard during the preseason in an effort to maximize his positional flexibility. On August 2, 2025, Waletzko was waived/injured by Dallas, ending his time with the organization that drafted him.
Minnesota Vikings Stint (2025)
Shortly after clearing waivers, Waletzko found a new opportunity in the NFC North. On September 30, 2025, he signed with the Minnesota Vikings’ practice squad, giving him a chance to continue developing in a different scheme. His stay in Minnesota was brief, however, as the Vikings released him from the practice squad on October 7, 2025.
Kansas City Chiefs Era (2025–Present)
Waletzko did not stay on the open market for long. On December 3, 2025, he signed with the Kansas City Chiefs’ practice squad, joining a perennial contender with a strong track record of developing offensive linemen. The move positioned him within a Super Bowl-caliber organization and offered a clear opportunity to compete for a reserve role on game day.
Driving Style and Strengths
Waletzko brings prototypical tackle dimensions with the kind of length and foot quickness that project well to the edge. He has shown the ability to play both tackle and guard, demonstrating the position-flexibility that coaches value along the offensive line. His development has been closely tied to strength and durability, areas the Chiefs’ staff will look to refine.
Notable Events and Milestones
Waletzko’s signature moment came early, when his only offensive snap as a rookie helped spring running back Ezekiel Elliott for a 1-yard touchdown in a 23–16 win against the New York Giants. He has also navigated two season-altering shoulder subluxations, multiple injured-reserve stints, and a positional switch to guard, milestones that speak to his resilience in a physically punishing profession.
Matt Waletzko Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Publicly available information about Matt Waletzko’s family background is limited. What is documented is his upbringing in Cold Spring, Minnesota, and his development at Rocori High School, where he played both sides of the ball as a senior. A detailed family lineage is not part of the verified record.
Personal Life
Waletzko keeps his personal life largely private. No verified information about a spouse, partner, or children is publicly documented in the materials reviewed. Off the field, he is known to come from the tight-knit Cold Spring community that helped shape his early football journey.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season has been a whirlwind for Waletzko, marked by roster turnover and a positional change. After being moved to offensive guard during the preseason, he was waived/injured by the Dallas Cowboys on August 2, 2025, ending a four-year run with the organization that drafted him. The transaction was the first domino in a season that would see him change teams multiple times.
He landed with the Minnesota Vikings’ practice squad on September 30, 2025, providing a brief landing spot before his release on October 7, 2025. Waletzko then signed with the Kansas City Chiefs’ practice squad on December 3, 2025, joining a contender late in the campaign and re-entering a competitive offensive line room with a chance to contribute.
Looking ahead, Waletzko’s focus will be on staying healthy, earning a reserve role, and translating his size and athleticism into consistent game reps. With the Chiefs’ track record of cultivating offensive linemen, the late-season opportunity could mark a meaningful turning point in his professional trajectory.