In the Falcon Nation, Matt Bryant is known as the current hero of the team. That’s what two consecutive game-winning field goals will do for you.
Elsewhere, Bryant is and has been known for something else, and not just for booting a 62-yard field goal with the Tampa Bay Bucs in 2006, although he did do that, even as time expired in a 23-21 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles.
Bryant, more notably, is the kicker who nailed three field goals the day after his son’s funeral. On September 24, 2008, one of Bryant’s two sons–three-month old Matthew Tryson–died in his sleep of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Later that week, no more than 24 hours after laying his son to rest, Bryant led the Bucs to a 30-21 home win over Green Bay. He converted all three of his PATs and all three of his field-goal attempts, including the go-ahead score with six minutes left in the game.
Two years later, following a brief stint in the United Football League after getting cut by Tampa Bay, Bryant is still going strong at 35-years old.
He has made nine of 10 field-goal tries and all nine of his PATs this season for Atlanta. His only miss came from 46 yards out against Pittsburgh, in a game in which he converted his three other attempts–including a season-high 49-yarder–and accounted for all nine of his team’s points.
Two weeks ago against the previously undefeated Saints, Bryant gave Garrett Hartley a free lesson on game-winning field goals in the opposing kicker’s own building. Hartley missed from 29 yards out in overtime, then Bryant connected minutes later on the game-winner from 46 yards away. Seven days later at the Georgia Dome, he sent the 49ers home by driving a 42-yarder through the uprights just before time expired for a 16-14 win.
For his efforts against San Francisco, which included three field goals in total and one extra point, Bryant was named the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week.
“That’s a great honor for Matt and a great honor for our team,” head coach Mike Smith said after Wednesday’s practice. “He could’ve probably gotten it last week, as well. He’s had two good pressure kicks for us at the end of the ballgame. Again, it’s an operation that takes center, holder and a kicker and the guys blocking up front.”
“Pressure is what you feel what you’re not prepared,” Bryant said in an interview with the team’s website following the huge victory at the Superdome. “I’ve been preparing for this for a long time. So is there pressure? Yeah, but preparing for a long time, it eliminates the pressure.”
Perhaps another reason for his immunity to pressure is the fact that he has gone through far more significant situations off the field than on. Since his son’s death, Bryant and his wife have set up the Matthew Tryson Bryant Foundation to raise awareness for SIDS. All proceeds go to the March of Dimes.
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