Matt Milano

Matthew Vincent Milano (born July 28, 1994) is an American football linebacker for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Boston College.[1] His parents are Michael and Karen Milano.

Matt Milano
No. 58 – Buffalo Bills
Position:Linebacker
Personal information
Born: (1994-07-28) July 28, 1994
Orlando, Florida
Height:6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:223 lb (101 kg)
Career information
High school:Dr. Phillips (Orlando, Florida)
College:Boston College
NFL Draft:2017 / Round: 5 / Pick: 163
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career NFL statistics as of Week 17, 2020
Total tackles:273
Sacks:6.0
Forced fumbles:2
Fumble recoveries:5
Interceptions:5
Pass deflections:21
Defensive touchdowns:1
Player stats at NFL.com

College career

Milano attended and played college football at Boston College under head coach Steve Addazio.[2]

Collegiate statistics
Matt Milano Tackles Interceptions Fumbles
Year School Conf Class Pos G Solo Ast Tot Loss Sk Int Yds Avg TD FR FF
2013 Boston College ACC FR S 4 4 1 5 0.0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0
2014 Boston College ACC SO LB 7 15 3 18 3.0 1.0 0 0 0 2 0
2015 Boston College ACC JR LB 12 46 12 58 17.5 6.5 0 0 0 1 2
2016 Boston College ACC SR LB 13 42 17 59 12.0 6.5 1 19 19.0 1 2 0
Career Boston College 107 33 140 32.5 14.0 1 19 19.0 1 5 2

Professional career
Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand size 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
6 ft 0 1⁄2 in
(1.84 m)		 223 lb
(101 kg)		 32 in
(0.81 m)		 9 3⁄8 in
(0.24 m)		 4.67 s 1.65 s 2.72 s 35 in
(0.89 m)		 10 ft 6 in
(3.20 m)		 24 reps
All values from NFL Combine[3]

The Buffalo Bills selected Milano in the fifth round (163rd overall) of the 2017 NFL Draft. The pick used to draft him was given by the New England Patriots as compensation for the Patriots signing restricted free agent running back Mike Gillislee.[4] He was the first of two linebackers selected, along with Boise State's Tanner Vallejo.[5]

2017

On May 11, 2017, the Buffalo Bills signed Milano to a four-year, $2.66 million contract that included a signing bonus of $261,506.[6]

Throughout training camp, Milano competed against veterans Ramon Humber and Gerald Hodges for the job as the starting weak side linebacker.[7] Head coach Sean McDermott named Milano the backup weakside linebacker behind Humber to begin the regular season.[8]

On October 8, 2017, Milano earned his first career start and recorded four combined tackles during a 20-16 loss at the Cincinnati Bengals. He earned the start in place of strongside linebacker Ramon Humber, who was ruled inactive due to a broken hand suffered the previous week.[9] On October 22, 2017, he had an impressive performance in his second consecutive start, making five combined tackles, two tackles for a loss, a pass deflection, and recorded his first career interception in the Bills' 30-27 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. His first career interception was off a pass attempt by Jameis Winston and he returned it 15 yards and received the game ball from head coach Sean McDermott.[10] In Week 8, Milano collected four combined tackles and scored his first career touchdown in the 34-14 win against the Oakland Raiders. In the second quarter of that game, cornerback Leonard Johnson forced a fumble by Raiders' running back DeAndré Washington, that was recovered by Milano and returned 40 yards for a touchdown.[11][12] The following week, Humber resumed his starting role at weakside linebacker and Milano returned to a reserve role.

On December 10, 2017, Milano was named the starting weakside linebacker over Humber and recorded a season-high 11 combined tackles in a 13-7 victory against the Indianapolis Colts. The next day, defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier stated Milano would remain the starting weakside linebacker barring any unforeseen circumstances.[13][14] During a Week 17 matchup at the Miami Dolphins, Milano recorded six combined tackles, but ultimately left the 22-16 victory after suffering a hamstring injury. He was listed as inactive and missed the Buffalo Bills 10-3 AFC Wildcard loss at the Jacksonville Jaguars.[15][16] Milano finished his rookie season with 49 combined tackles (32 solo), two pass deflections, one interception, and a fumble recovery in 16 games and five starts.[17] Pro Football Focus gave Milano an overall grade of 72.2 for 2017. It ranked 41st among all qualifying linebackers and third among all rookie linebackers, behind Reuben Foster (90.7) and Zach Cunningham (80.6).[18][19]

2018

In Week 3, Milano recorded a sack, an interception, a fumble recovery, two passes defensed and eight tackles in a 27-6 win over the Minnesota Vikings, earning him AFC Defensive Player of the Week.[20] In Week 14, Milano suffered a broken fibula and underwent season-ending surgery.[21] He was placed on injured reserve on December 11, 2018.[22] Milano finished his second professional season with 78 combined tackles, 1 sack, and 3 interceptions.

2019

Milano returned from injury, recording a career high 100 combined tackles along with 1.5 sacks and a forced fumble in 15 starts. As Buffalo also returned to the playoffs, the team faced the Houston Texans in the wild card round. Milano had a game-high 12 tackles, but as the game went into overtime, Milano and Bills safety Siran Neal failed to sack Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson, who spun out of the tackle attempt and completed a pass which set up Houston's game-winning field goal, sealing a 22–19 Bills loss.[23][24]

2020

In Week 1 against the New York Jets, Milano recorded his first interception of the season during the 27–17 win.[25] He was placed on injured reserve on November 7, 2020, after dealing with a pectoral injury since Week 4.[26] He was activated on December 7.[27]

References
  1. Benbow, Julian (April 23, 2017). "BC's Matt Milano looking to make big jump". Boston Globe. Retrieved April 30, 2017.
  2. "BC's Matt Milano passed first test as hybrid linebacker". The Boston Globe. Retrieved October 8, 2018.
  3. "NFL Draft Profile: Matt Milano". NFL.com. Retrieved January 28, 2018.
  4. Hamilton, Jake (April 29, 2017). "Bills take two LBs late for special teams". BuffaloBills.com. Archived from the original on May 4, 2017. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
  5. "2017 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 8, 2018.
  6. "Spotrac.com: Matt Milano contract". spotrac.com. Retrieved January 28, 2018.
  7. Canio Marasco (July 11, 2017). "Who will start at outside linebacker?". BuffaloBills.com. Archived from the original on January 29, 2018. Retrieved January 28, 2018.
  8. "Maiorana: If Sean McDermott asks, this is my 53-man Bills roster". democratandchronicle.com. August 31, 2017. Retrieved January 28, 2018.
  9. Robert Quinn (October 3, 2017). "Bills' rookie LB Matt Milano to start in place of injured Ramon Humber". BillsWire.USAtoday.com. Retrieved January 28, 2018.
  10. Sal Mairorana. "Did the Buffalo Bills find a fifth-round gem in linebacker Matt Milano?". democratandchronicle.com. Retrieved January 28, 2018.
  11. Harding, Robert (October 30, 2017). "Buffalo Bills Week 8 Report Card: LeSean McCoy, Matt Milano leads Bills to 34-14 win". auburnpub.com.
  12. "NFL Game Center: Week 8-2017: Oakland Raiders @ Buffalo Bills". NFL.com. Retrieved January 28, 2018.
  13. RotoWire Staff (December 14, 2017). "Bills' Matt Milano: Late-season starter". CBS Sports.
  14. "Leslie Frazier: Matt Milano will start in place of Ramon Humber". BuffaloRumblings.com. December 13, 2017. Retrieved January 28, 2018.
  15. Rotowire (January 7, 2018). "Bills' Matt Milano: Will miss wild-card game". CBSSports.com. Retrieved January 28, 2018.
  16. Sean Murphy (January 7, 2018). "Buffalo Bills inactives, Wild Card game against the Jacksonville Jaguars: LeSean McCoy in". BuffaloRumblings.com. Retrieved January 28, 2018.
  17. "NFL Player stats: Matt Milano (2017)". NFL.com. Retrieved January 28, 2018.
  18. "Pro Football Focus: Matt Milano". profootballfocus.com. Retrieved January 28, 2018.
  19. Justin DiLoro (December 31, 2017). "Bills LB Matt Milano proving he's one of biggest steals from 2017 NFL draft". billswire.usatoday.com. Retrieved January 28, 2018.
  20. Bergman, Jeremy (September 26, 2018). "Big Ben, Drew Brees among NFL Players of the Week". NFL.com. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
  21. "LB Matt Milano out for season with broken fibula". 247Sports.com. December 10, 2018.
  22. Brown, Chris (December 11, 2018). "Bills place Matt Milano, Taron Johnson on I-R". BuffaloBills.com.
  23. "Bills' Matt Milano on Texans' Deshaun Watson's great escape: 'We just missed the tackle'". The Buffalo News. January 4, 2020. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
  24. Silver, Michael (January 5, 2020). "'Chill' Deshaun Watson ices Bills with epic play in Texans victory". NFL.com. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
  25. https://www.espn.com/nfl/boxscore?gameId=401220116
  26. "Bills place Matt Milano on injured reserve; activate LB Del'Shawn Phillips". BuffaloBills.com. November 7, 2020.
  27. Glab, Maddy (December 7, 2020). "Bills activate Matt Milano from injured reserve". BuffaloBills.com. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
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