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Matthew Bergeron

Matthew Bergeron (born February 26, 2000) is a Canadian professional American football offensive guard for the of the (NFL). He played at , where he started 39 of 46 games over four seasons, and was selected by the Falcons in the second round (38th overall) of the after the team traded up to draft him. Born in , , Bergeron grew up in and became the first player from his hometown to earn an football scholarship. As a highly touted recruit, he was ranked as the No. 2 overall prospect from and among the top offensive tackles in his high school class by major scouting services. At Syracuse, Bergeron transitioned to guard, earned honorable mention All-ACC honors as a sophomore in 2021, and was named to the second-team All-ACC as a senior captain in 2022 while receiving PFF All- second-team recognition as a true freshman. In his NFL career, the 6-foot-5, 315-pound Bergeron has started all 42 games at left guard through his first three seasons (2023–2025), including 17 starts each in 2023 and 2024. He signed a four-year rookie contract worth $8,978,480, including a $3,529,804 signing bonus, following the draft. Bergeron's contributions helped the Falcons' offense rank sixth in the league in total yards per game (369.8) in 2024 and fifth-lowest in opponent pressure rate (30.4%) during his 2023 rookie year. As of November 2025, he has appeared in eight games but is sidelined with an ankle injury sustained earlier in the season.

Early life

Family and upbringing

Matthew Bergeron was born on February 26, 2000, in Victoriaville, Quebec, Canada. His father is Congolese and immigrated to Canada, while his mother, Annie Bergeron, is Quebec-born, creating a bilingual household where French served as the primary language. This mixed heritage exposed Bergeron to diverse cultural influences from a young age, blending Congolese roots with Quebecois traditions in a predominantly French-speaking environment. Raised in the small town of , a community of about 40,000 residents in central , Bergeron experienced a close-knit, working-class upbringing typical of rural Canadian life. The family's emphasis on resilience and hard work shaped his early years, though Bergeron later encountered challenges such as language barriers when navigating English-dominant settings outside . Annie Bergeron, who raised the family as the primary caregiver, instilled values of perseverance and family unity, often driving long distances to support her children's activities. As the eldest of four siblings, Bergeron grew up alongside brothers MarcArthur and Malcolm, and sister Kimberley, all of whom shared an interest in sports under their mother's encouragement. The family provided unwavering support for his athletic interests, with Annie and his siblings frequently attending events and offering emotional backing during his development. This tight familial bond, rooted in their home, played a key role in fostering Bergeron's determination amid the cultural and linguistic hurdles of his early life.

Introduction to football and education

Matthew Bergeron, born in Victoriaville, Quebec, initially pursued a variety of sports during his youth, including , , soccer, and the , reflecting the multisport culture common in Canadian small towns. Football entered his life later as a secondary interest, with Bergeron discovering the sport through local youth leagues in , where he began playing in organized minor programs. Despite growing up idolizing teams like the and local junior squad , he gradually shifted focus toward , participating in youth competitions that introduced him to the offensive line position. In high school at École secondaire Le Boisé in Victoriaville, Bergeron joined the Vicas football team, honing his skills as an offensive lineman under coach Jean Bourassa. His development was not without challenges; after his third year of secondary school, he considered quitting football due to limited opportunities and lack of recognition, but Bourassa persuaded him to continue, recognizing his potential. Bergeron's perseverance paid off as he earned local accolades, including selection to Équipe Québec for the 2017 Canada Cup, where he trained with advanced techniques that solidified his commitment to the sport. This period marked his transition from a casual multi-sport athlete to a dedicated football player, earning him notice within Quebec's amateur circuits. Seeking greater competition and visibility, Bergeron enrolled at Cégep de Thetford in Thetford-Mines for the 2018–2019 academic years, playing for the Filons in the RSEQ league. There, he excelled on the offensive line, earning the 2018 RSEQ Second Division Offensive Player of the Year award and becoming the program's Athlete of the Year, while also being the first player in Cégep de Thetford history to secure an scholarship. His performances attracted U.S. scouts, culminating in a pivotal visit to a football camp in summer 2018, where he impressed coaches enough to receive an offer despite initial language barriers as a speaker. Balancing athletics with academics, Bergeron's strong scholastic record facilitated his recruitment to Syracuse, where he later graduated in 2023 with a in from the David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics.

College career

Arrival at Syracuse and early seasons

Bergeron committed to in July 2018 and signed his during the early signing period on December 19, 2018, becoming the first player from , , to earn a Division I scholarship. He enrolled at Syracuse in the summer of 2019 as a true freshman offensive tackle, transitioning from Canadian to the level. In his 2019 freshman season, Bergeron appeared in all 12 games for the , earning starts in the final five contests at right tackle after emerging midway through the year. His limited initial role allowed him to focus on adapting to the speed and physicality of Division I competition, where he played 403 total snaps while allowing three sacks. His performance earned him PFF All- Second Team recognition. As a sophomore in 2020, Bergeron started all 11 games, opening the season at right tackle for the first three before switching to left tackle for the final eight, helping anchor an offensive line amid a shortened season. In 2021, his junior year, he started every one of Syracuse's 12 games at left tackle, contributing to a rushing offense that amassed 2,562 total yards—averaging 213.5 yards per game—with Sean Tucker leading the charge at 1,496 yards. For his efforts, he earned honorable mention All-ACC honors. Over his and junior seasons combined, Bergeron logged 23 starts at tackle, building a foundation of reliability on the left side of the line. Throughout his early years at Syracuse, Bergeron navigated significant challenges as a native speaker from , including a that complicated communication in an English-dominant environment and cultural adjustments to life in the United States. He also adapted to Syracuse's harsh winters, which contrasted with milder conditions, yet these hurdles fueled his development into a steady presence on the offensive line.

2022 breakout season and honors

In 2022, Bergeron's senior season at Syracuse marked a significant step forward, as he started all 11 games at left tackle for the , anchoring an offensive line that contributed to the team's improved performance. Named a team captain prior to the season, he provided to a unit that helped Syracuse average 27.7 points per game across 13 contests, a marked increase from prior years and supporting a 7-6 overall record. Bergeron delivered standout performances in several key ACC matchups, notably earning ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week honors twice during the season—once after a win over UConn, where he helped generate 470 total yards, and again following an victory against Florida State, in which he allowed no pressures or sacks while enabling 156 rushing yards. His play against #5 Clemson on October 22, a narrow 27-21 loss that tested Syracuse's undefeated start, further highlighted his ability to protect quarterback against a formidable defensive front. For his efforts, Bergeron was selected to the second-team All-ACC by both conference coaches and the , recognizing his consistency and impact on the line. He received an invitation to the 2023 Reese's , where his versatile blocking and athleticism impressed scouts during practices, boosting his draft stock. In December 2022, following the regular season, Bergeron declared for the , capping a college career that included appearances in 46 games with 39 starts.

Professional career

2023 NFL Draft and rookie season

The Atlanta Falcons selected Matthew Bergeron in the second round (38th overall) of the 2023 NFL Draft after trading up from their original position, marking a strategic move to bolster their offensive line with the versatile lineman from Syracuse. This selection made Bergeron the first player from Victoriaville, Quebec, to be drafted into the NFL, highlighting his unique journey from Canadian junior football to professional prospect. His physicality and run-blocking prowess were key factors in the Falcons' decision, as noted by team evaluations during the pre-draft process. Following the draft, Bergeron signed a four-year contract with worth approximately $8.98 million, fully guaranteed at $7.01 million and including a of $3.53 million. The deal, inked in June 2023, positioned him as an immediate contributor on the depth chart, transitioning from college tackle to in Atlanta's scheme under offensive line coach Ledford. In his 2023 rookie season, Bergeron started all 17 games at left guard, logging over 1,100 offensive snaps without missing a single start and playing nearly every snap in 16 contests. He anchored the line for a rushing attack that totaled 2,159 yards, supporting running backs like in Arthur Smith's zone-blocking scheme. Bergeron's earned him a overall grade of 59.1, with strengths in run blocking (60.2) offset by areas for growth in pass protection (57.1), where he allowed six sacks. Despite the challenges of adjusting to the NFL's increased speed and physicality—which led to an uneven campaign with occasional lapses in technique—Bergeron provided crucial stability to the ' offensive line amid injuries to teammates, including right tackle , who missed three games due to an MCL sprain. His reliability helped maintain continuity, allowing the unit to adapt without major disruptions despite the absences.

2024 and 2025 seasons

In the 2024 season, Bergeron solidified his role as the starting left guard for the , appearing in all 17 games and starting every one at the position. His consistent performance contributed to an offensive unit that ranked sixth in the in total yards per game at 369.82, providing strong protection and run support for quarterback and running back . Bergeron earned internal team recognition for his reliability, allowing just three sacks across 1,105 pass-blocking snaps according to grading. Entering 2025, Bergeron continued as a cornerstone of the Falcons' offensive line rebuild under head coach Raheem Morris, starting the first eight games at left guard before sustaining an ankle injury on the opening drive against the New England Patriots in Week 9 on November 2. Although he played three snaps in that contest before exiting, the injury marked the first time in his career he missed significant action and was listed as week-to-week ahead of Week 10 versus the Indianapolis Colts on November 9. He ultimately missed Weeks 10 and 11, including being ruled out for the November 16 game against the Carolina Panthers, with no specific return timeline announced as of November 16, 2025. Through his eight games and starts in 2025, Bergeron helped facilitate a ground game that amassed over 1,200 rushing yards, including approximately 550 from Robinson, while allowing only one sack in pass protection. As of November 16, 2025, Bergeron's professional career totals stand at 42 starts in 42 games played, underscoring his durability as a third-year anchor in Atlanta's evolving front. His presence has been pivotal in the team's offensive line reconstruction, transitioning from a rookie-laden group in 2023 to a more cohesive unit emphasizing run-heavy schemes. Additionally, as a -Canadian native fluent in both and English, Bergeron enhances locker room diversity, bridging communication for international players and fostering team cohesion in a multicultural environment.

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