Getting to Know Matt Cassel

Matt Cassel, the newest member of the Kansas City Chiefs was born May 17, 1982 in Northridge, California, a community of 68,000, in the San Fernando Valley region of Los Angeles. In his early years, Matt Cassel was the starting first baseman on the Northridge baseball team that reached the finals of the 1994 Little League World Series.

Matt attended Chatsworth High School and was a letterman, an all-city selection, and a standout in both football and baseball. Matt signed a scholarship to play quarterback for the USC Trojans where he spent four years on the squad. Unfortunately for Matt, he played backup to two Heisman trophy winners, Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart.

Matt played one season of baseball for USC in 2004, and was selected by the Oakland Athletics in the 36th round of the 2004 MLB Draft. Matt passed on that opportunity and was eventually drafted by the New England Patriots as the 16th pick in the 7th round of the 2005 NFL draft. In that year’s draft, the Kansas City Chiefs had the pick before New England (#15, 229 overall) in the 7th round where they selected James Kilian, QB Tulsa.

Who knows where the Kansas City Franchise would be if had they decided to select Matt instead. All we do know now, is that as we embark on this new era of Kansas City Chiefs football, there is a new order of business at 1 Arrowhead Drive. Will it breed winning? Only time will tell.