Ross Matiscik Bio
Ross Matiscik (born September 13, 1996) is an American professional football long snapper for the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 feet 0 inches tall and weighing around 240 pounds, he plays one of the most specialized roles on the gridiron, delivering consistent snaps on field goals, extra points, and punts. Matiscik has become a trusted specialist for the Jaguars since arriving in the league as an undrafted free agent, earning recognition as one of the top long snappers in professional football.
Over the course of his NFL career, Matiscik has built a reputation for accuracy and durability with the Jacksonville Jaguars. A former college linebacker who transitioned to long snapper, he has combined athletic background with technical refinement. His steady play has helped anchor the Jaguars’ special teams units through several seasons, and his consistent accuracy on snaps has made him a valued contributor in close games and high-pressure moments.
Early Life and Background
Ross Matiscik was born on September 13, 1996, in Youngstown, Ohio. He grew up in McKinney, Texas, where he attended McKinney Boyd High School. At Boyd, he was a multi-sport athlete who competed in both baseball and football, gaining a broad athletic foundation that would later shape his approach to the game.
As a three-year letter winner in high school football, Matiscik played on both sides of the ball. He lined up at offensive line and linebacker, and he especially excelled as a middle linebacker. During his senior season, he was honored as an all-state linebacker and was named District 6-6A Defensive Most Valuable Player. He finished his high school career with 233 tackles, 12 sacks, 4 interceptions, and a blocked field goal. Despite those impressive numbers, Matiscik was not recruited by any Division I college football programs coming out of high school.
Path to American Football
After high school, Matiscik joined the Baylor Bears as a walk-on, beginning his college football journey without a scholarship offer. He spent his first season as a redshirt, using the year to develop physically and learn the system. During that redshirt year, the Baylor coaching staff moved him to the long snapper position, a switch that would ultimately define his professional career and give him a clear path into the NFL.
While at Baylor, Matiscik served as the Bears’ primary long snapper for four seasons. He also contributed as a reserve linebacker, showcasing the same athleticism that had made him a high school standout on defense. His combination of size, strength, and clean snapping technique helped him gain attention from NFL scouts, even though he played a position that rarely receives major headlines.
Ross Matiscik Career
Early Career (2020–2021)
Ross Matiscik signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars as an undrafted free agent on April 26, 2020. He entered a training camp competition with incumbent long snapper Matthew Orzech and won the job, securing a place on the Jaguars’ 53-man roster out of camp. He made his NFL debut on September 13, 2020, in the season opener against the Indianapolis Colts, a fitting date given that it was his birthday.
Through his first two NFL seasons, Matiscik continued to refine his craft and build trust with the Jaguars’ kickers and punters. His accuracy on field goal, extra point, and punt snaps helped stabilize the team’s special teams units. By the end of the 2021 campaign, he had positioned himself as a long-term answer at the long snapper spot, which led the organization to invest in his future.
Jacksonville Jaguars Breakthrough (2022–2023)
On April 29, 2022, Matiscik signed a five-year, $5.965 million contract extension with the Jacksonville Jaguars, a deal that runs through the 2026 season. The agreement signaled the franchise’s confidence in his reliability and gave him long-term security at the position. From that point forward, he became a fixture in the Jaguars’ special teams plans.
The 2023 season marked Matiscik’s emergence as one of the league’s elite specialists. On January 3, 2024, he was selected to his first Pro Bowl. For his play during the 2023 season, he was also named to the All-Pro First Team by both the NFL Players Association and the Associated Press. He led all long snappers in total tackles with 8 and added a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Notably, since his NFL debut in 2020, he has never had a bad snap, a streak that underlines his consistency under pressure.
Jacksonville Jaguars Era (2024–Present)
Following the 2024 season, Matiscik was named to his second consecutive Pro Bowl and earned NFLPA All-Pro First-Team honors once again. He continued to deliver accurate snaps and contribute on special teams coverage units, reinforcing his value to the Jaguars. On December 23, 2025, he was selected to his third Pro Bowl, further establishing his place among the top long snappers in the league.
Heading into the 2025 campaign, Matiscik remained the Jaguars’ starting long snapper under the contract extension signed in 2022. His presence gave the team continuity at a position where mistakes are often magnified. As Jacksonville pushed for another competitive season, his steady hand on special teams played a key supporting role in the team’s overall plans.
Driving Style and Strengths
While long snapping does not involve the same driving demands as other positions, Matiscik’s athletic profile gives him a clear edge. His background as a middle linebacker shows in his coverage ability, as evidenced by his 8 tackles and a forced fumble during the 2023 season. He pairs that physicality with clean, repeatable snapping mechanics, which allows the Jaguars’ kickers and punters to operate with confidence on every special teams play.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Ross Matiscik’s most notable achievements are three consecutive Pro Bowl selections from 2023 through 2025 and First-Team All-Pro recognition for the 2023 season. He also earned Second-Team All-Pro honors following the 2024 campaign. His streak of zero bad snaps since his 2020 NFL debut stands out as one of the most impressive records at the position in recent memory.
Ross Matiscik Career Wins
As a long snapper, Ross Matiscik’s contributions are measured less in traditional win totals and more in reliability, accuracy, and special teams impact. Across his time with the Jacksonville Jaguars, he has earned three Pro Bowl nods, two First-Team All-Pro selections with the NFLPA, one First-Team All-Pro nod from the Associated Press, and one Second-Team All-Pro recognition. His league-leading 8 tackles among long snappers in 2023 added a defensive dimension to his resume.
NFL Highlights
Matiscik’s first career milestone came on September 13, 2020, when he made his NFL debut against the Indianapolis Colts on his 24th birthday. He earned his first Pro Bowl selection on January 3, 2024, after the 2023 season, and followed it with selections in each of the next two years. He has appeared in every regular season and postseason game for the Jaguars since winning the long snapper job in 2020.
Other Performances
During his time at Baylor, Matiscik was a four-year starter at long snapper and also served as a reserve linebacker for the Bears. His college experience as a walk-on who earned a starting role by his second season foreshadowed the professional path he would take with the Jaguars, where he again started as an underdog and won the job outright.
Ross Matiscik Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Ross Matiscik’s family has a clear connection to football and the long snapper position. His brother, Brent Matiscik, played four seasons as a long snapper for the TCU Horned Frogs and later signed with the Cleveland Browns as an undrafted free agent. That family background helped shape Ross’s understanding of the position and the work ethic required to succeed at it.
Personal Life
Ross Matiscik grew up in McKinney, Texas, after being born in Youngstown, Ohio, and remains connected to that Texas community. His journey from undrafted walk-on to multi-year NFL starter and Pro Bowl selection reflects the support of his family, including his brother Brent, who followed a similar path into professional football.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season further cemented Ross Matiscik’s standing as one of the premier long snappers in the NFL. On December 23, 2025, he was selected to his third Pro Bowl, capping another year of clean snaps and reliable special teams play for the Jacksonville Jaguars. His consistency allowed the team’s kickers and punters to operate with confidence throughout the season.
Under the five-year contract extension signed in April 2022, Matiscik continued to serve as a stabilizing presence on special teams. His coverage work added tackles and forced turnovers, while his snapping accuracy kept the Jaguars out of trouble on field goal, extra point, and punt attempts. The combination of veteran reliability and youthful athleticism kept him at the center of Jacksonville’s special teams identity.
Looking ahead, Matiscik remains signed through the 2026 season and is expected to continue as the Jaguars’ long snapper. With three straight Pro Bowl appearances and multiple All-Pro honors on his resume, his role within the organization looks secure as Jacksonville builds around a consistent and battle-tested special teams core.