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S MATT GIORDANO #47

5' 11" • 200 lbs. • California

Exp: 5th NFL Season, 1st Packers Season
Age: 27
Acquired: Free Agent 2009
Current Status: Active Roster

2008 Bio:

Pro Summary

Versatile safety and special-teams contributor that has started games at both strong and free safety spots during his career
Signed with the Packers as a free agent on Sept. 23 to provide depth at a position hit by injuries to starters Atari Bigby and Nick Collins
Was released by the Colts on Sept. 6, a week before the season opener
Played in 55 games with six starts during his four seasons with Indianapolis
Registered 78 tackles (52 solo), seven passes defensed and three interceptions, along with 34 special teams tackles, during his time with the Colts
Started career-high four games in 2007, opening three contests at free safety and one at strong safety
Part of Colts’ Super Bowl XLI team during the 2006 season, making him the only current player on the Packers’ roster with a Super Bowl ring
Finished second on the team during the 2006 postseason with eight tackles on special teams
Drafted by the Colts in 2005 in the fourth round out of the University of California, where he was a two-year letterman
Earned first-team All-Pac-10 honors as a senior as well as honorable mention All-America recognition from The NFL Draft Report and Pro Football Weekly
Was a teammate of quarterback Aaron Rodgers at Cal
Began his college career at Fresno City College, where he was a two-time all-conference selection and an all-state choice as a freshman

2008 Season

Played in all 16 games for the first time in his career with one start
Recorded career-best 26 tackles (16 solo), along with a career-high 13 stops on special teams (seven solo)
Vs. Jacksonville (Sept. 21): Posted a season-high five tackles (four solo)
Vs. Houston (Nov. 16): Registered four defensive stops (one solo) along with two tackles on special teams
Vs. Tennessee (Dec. 28): Started at strong safety
At San Diego (Jan. 3): Saw action as a reserve in Wild Card game

2007 Season

Played in 12 games with a career-high four starts and posted 21 tackles (13 solo), two interceptions, and three passes defensed
Also had four tackles on special teams
Inactive for four games due to hamstring injury
Vs. New Orleans (Sept. 6): Picked off Drew Brees late in the fourth quarter and returned the interception 83 yards for the first touchdown of his career
Vs. Tampa Bay (Oct. 7): Started at strong safety for an injured Bob Sanders
At Oakland (Dec. 16): Started at free safety in place of an injured Antoine Bethea and posted four tackles (three solo)
Vs. Houston (Dec. 23): Started second straight game at FS and posted an interception off quarterback Sage Rosenfels
Vs. Tennessee (Dec. 30): Started again for Bethea and registered four tackles (two solo)
Vs. San Diego (Jan. 13): Saw action on special teams in Divisional Playoff

2006 Season

Played in 12 games with one start and recorded 25 tackles (19 solo), one interception and three passes defensed along with nine stops (eight solo) on special teams
Also appeared in all four playoff games, finishing second on the team with eight tackles (five solo) on special teams
Inactive for four games with injured calf
At Jacksonville (Dec. 10): Posted career-high 12 tackles (nine solo) and intercepted the first pass of his career, picking off quarterback David Garrard early in the second quarter as he filled in for an injured Bethea
Vs. Cincinnati (Dec. 18): Started his first career game, opening at free safety for an injured Sanders. Recorded eight tackles (five solo) and a pass defensed
Vs. New England (Jan. 21): Registered team-high five special teams tackles in AFC Championship Game
Vs. Chicago (Feb. 4): Had a key pass defensed in fourth quarter of Super Bowl XLI when he broke up a short Rex Grossman pass intended for tight end Desmond Clark over the middle on fourth down with just over five minutes remaining

2005 Season

Appeared in 15 games as a rookie as a reserve safety and special-teams contributor
Inactive for game at New England (Nov. 7) and playoff contest vs. Pittsburgh (Jan. 15)
Posted six tackles (four solo) and two passes defensed on the season, and added eight tackles (seven solo) on special teams
Vs. Tennessee (Dec. 4): Recorded three solo tackles on special teams
Vs. Arizona (Jan. 1): Posted four tackles (two solo) and a career-high two passes defensed
2005 Draft: Selected by the Colts as the second of two fourth-round selections (135th overall)
Highest-drafted safety out of Cal since Marquis Smith was drafted by Cleveland in the third round (76th overall) in 1999

College Summary

Two-year letterman who started 14 of 25 games at safety during his two years at Cal
Finished career with 111 tackles (73 solo), four tackles for loss, one sack, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, six passes defensed and two interceptions
Began career at Fresno City College
Earned degree in American studies
Senior season (2004): Played in 12 games with 10 starts and earned All-Pac-10 first-team honors
Honorable mention All-America selection by The NFL Draft Report and Pro Football Weekly
Registered 61 tackles (41 solo), a sack, two forced fumbles, six passes defensed and an interception
Posted an interception in season-opening win at Air Force (Sept. 4)
Recorded five tackles and two passes defensed in Holiday Bowl vs. Texas Tech (Dec. 30)
Junior season (2003): Played in 13 games with four starts and posted 50 tackles (32 solo), 2½ tackles for loss, a fumble recovery and an interception
Started first four games of the season when starter Ryan Gutierrez was sidelined with a knee injury
Despite playing as a reserve for the final nine games, his 50 tackles ranked fourth on the team
Led team with 12 tackles in Cal debut at Kansas State (Aug. 23)
Posted first career interception when he picked off quarterback Matt Leinart in Golden Bears’ 34-31, triple-overtime win vs. USC (Sept. 27)
Junior college: Was a two-time all-conference selection at Fresno City College
Voted Defensive MVP in Northern California championship game
Earned all-state honors at strong safety as a freshman when he posted 62 tackles (26 solo), four fumble recoveries and an interception
As a sophomore in 2002, his team handed Rodgers and his Butte College team their lone loss of the season

Personal

Given name Matthew Victor Giordano
Born in Fresno, Calif.
Married to Laura, the couple has a daughter, Addison
His great-grandfather, Ralph Giordano, was a world welterweight boxing champion in 1933
High school: Attended Buchanan High in Fresno, where he was a two-time all-conference selection
Played key role in school’s first ever Valley championship in 2000, posting five interceptions, three forced fumbles and 64 tackles, and averaging nine yards per carry and 12.6 yards per reception on offense
Set school records for longest punt return for a touchdown, most blocked kicks and most interceptions in a single game
Was named Defensive Player of the Year and team’s Most Outstanding Player as a senior
Was also league champion in 400 meters
Community involvement: Was active with the Make-A-Wish Foundation in Indianapolis
Was also involved with the Horizon House in Indianapolis, a center that provided clothing, shelter and other services for homeless people in an effort to help them become self-sufficient
Hobbies/interests: Enjoys playing golf and spending time with family
Residence: Carmel, Ind.

ELIAS Game By Game Packers Stats
Game Date	Opp	Sacks
Game Date	Opp	Sacks
Sep 13, 2009	CHI	0
Sep 20, 2009	CIN	0
Sep 27, 2009	@STL	0
Oct 5, 2009	@MIN	0
Oct 18, 2009	DET	0
Oct 25, 2009	@CLE	0
Nov 1, 2009	MIN	0
Nov 8, 2009	@TB	0
Nov 15, 2009	DAL	0
Nov 22, 2009	SF	0
Nov 26, 2009	@DET	0
Dec 7, 2009	BAL	0
Dec 13, 2009	@CHI	0
Dec 20, 2009	@PIT	0
Dec 27, 2009	SEA	0
Jan 3, 2010	@ARI	0
2009 Totals		0
Packers Totals		0

Statistics provided by Elias Sports Bureau