Temple University Athletics
Temple’s Tyler Matakevich Added to the 2027 Ballot for the College Football Hall of Fame
6.1.26 | Football
DALLAS, Texas (June 1, 2026) – The National Football Foundation (NFF) announced today the names on the 2027 Ballot under consideration for induction into the NFF College Football Hall of Fame.
Former Temple linebacker Tyler Matakevich is included among 80 players and nine coaches from the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision. The ballot also includes 99 players and 39 coaches from the NCAA divisional and NAIA ranks.
Matakevich was an outstanding college football player from the time he stepped foot on Temple's campus. A vote for Matakevich would make him just the second Temple player to earn a place in the College Football Hall of Fame joining running back Paul Palmer (Class of 2018). Three coaches – Glenn "Pop" Warner (1951), Ray Morrison ()1954, and Wayne Hardin (2013) - have been enshrined.
"We are so proud of Tyler's accomplishments, and he continues to represent Temple so well," said Temple Vice President/Debbie and Stanley Lefkowitz '65 Director of Athletics Arthur Johnson. "While I was not here during Tyler's time as a student-athlete, I am very well aware of his achievements. He was a tackling machine but more importantly, he was a leader who helped raise the level of those around him. It's no surprise that his years at Temple were some of the best years in the history of our football program."
Added current Temple Football head coach K.C. Keeler, "I've had the pleasure of spending time with Tyler this spring. While that was the first time we met face-to-face, I was very familiar with his history. You can't be part of the Temple Football program without being in awe of Tyler Matakevich's career. He is as legendary as distinguished former Owls Paul Palmer, Wayne Hardin and Pop Warner – who are all members of the College Football Hall of Fame. He should be joining them soon."
As a freshman at Temple in 2012, Matakevich played in all 13 games, making his first start in Week 5 against USF. He became the first freshman in school history to record 100 tackles, finishing with 101. He was recognized as a Freshman All-American and Big East Rookie of the Year.
By the third game of his sophomore season (at Idaho on Sept. 28) he became a certified tackling machine registering a career-best 24 total tackles. He finished the 2013 year with 137 tackles, one sack and one interception. His 106 solo tackles led all NCAA players.
As a junior, he had 117 tackles, 1.5 sacks and one interception.
He gained national attention early in his 2015 senior season. Temple opened the year with a win over Penn State, its first victory over the Nittany Lions in over 70 years and 40 tries. Matakevich led the way with a career-best 3.0 sacks. Six days later he had a career-high two interceptions in a nationally-televised Friday night conference win at Cincinnati. Temple started the year 7-0 and was nationally ranked for the first time in 36 years. The Owls capped the year with a trip to the inaugural American Athletic Conference (AAC) Championship and Matakevich was heralded with consensus All-American honors earning the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Chuck Bednarik Award and AAC Defensive Player of the Year.
Matakevich finished the season with 138 tackles and became just the seventh player in FBS history to record 100 tackles all four seasons. His 493 career tackles broke the school record.
Following his college career, Matakevich was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the seventh round of the 2016 NFL draft. He played nine years in the NFL with both Pittsburgh and Buffalo serving as a captain for each franchise. After sitting out the 2025 season, he officially announced his retirement from the NFL this spring.
To be eligible for the NFF College Football Hall of Fame, players must have been named a First Team All-American by a major/national selector as recognized and utilized by the NCAA for their consensus All-America teams; played their last year of intercollegiate football at least 10 full seasons prior; played within the last 50 years; and cannot be currently playing professional football. In all cases, the candidate's post-football record as a citizen may also be weighed.
The announcement of the 2027 NFF College Football Hall of Fame Class will be made in early 2027, with specific details to be announced in the future. The Class will be officially inducted next year during the 69th NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas and permanently immortalized at the Chick-fil-A College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta.
Former Temple linebacker Tyler Matakevich is included among 80 players and nine coaches from the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision. The ballot also includes 99 players and 39 coaches from the NCAA divisional and NAIA ranks.
Matakevich was an outstanding college football player from the time he stepped foot on Temple's campus. A vote for Matakevich would make him just the second Temple player to earn a place in the College Football Hall of Fame joining running back Paul Palmer (Class of 2018). Three coaches – Glenn "Pop" Warner (1951), Ray Morrison ()1954, and Wayne Hardin (2013) - have been enshrined.
"We are so proud of Tyler's accomplishments, and he continues to represent Temple so well," said Temple Vice President/Debbie and Stanley Lefkowitz '65 Director of Athletics Arthur Johnson. "While I was not here during Tyler's time as a student-athlete, I am very well aware of his achievements. He was a tackling machine but more importantly, he was a leader who helped raise the level of those around him. It's no surprise that his years at Temple were some of the best years in the history of our football program."
Added current Temple Football head coach K.C. Keeler, "I've had the pleasure of spending time with Tyler this spring. While that was the first time we met face-to-face, I was very familiar with his history. You can't be part of the Temple Football program without being in awe of Tyler Matakevich's career. He is as legendary as distinguished former Owls Paul Palmer, Wayne Hardin and Pop Warner – who are all members of the College Football Hall of Fame. He should be joining them soon."
As a freshman at Temple in 2012, Matakevich played in all 13 games, making his first start in Week 5 against USF. He became the first freshman in school history to record 100 tackles, finishing with 101. He was recognized as a Freshman All-American and Big East Rookie of the Year.
By the third game of his sophomore season (at Idaho on Sept. 28) he became a certified tackling machine registering a career-best 24 total tackles. He finished the 2013 year with 137 tackles, one sack and one interception. His 106 solo tackles led all NCAA players.
As a junior, he had 117 tackles, 1.5 sacks and one interception.
He gained national attention early in his 2015 senior season. Temple opened the year with a win over Penn State, its first victory over the Nittany Lions in over 70 years and 40 tries. Matakevich led the way with a career-best 3.0 sacks. Six days later he had a career-high two interceptions in a nationally-televised Friday night conference win at Cincinnati. Temple started the year 7-0 and was nationally ranked for the first time in 36 years. The Owls capped the year with a trip to the inaugural American Athletic Conference (AAC) Championship and Matakevich was heralded with consensus All-American honors earning the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Chuck Bednarik Award and AAC Defensive Player of the Year.
Matakevich finished the season with 138 tackles and became just the seventh player in FBS history to record 100 tackles all four seasons. His 493 career tackles broke the school record.
Following his college career, Matakevich was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the seventh round of the 2016 NFL draft. He played nine years in the NFL with both Pittsburgh and Buffalo serving as a captain for each franchise. After sitting out the 2025 season, he officially announced his retirement from the NFL this spring.
To be eligible for the NFF College Football Hall of Fame, players must have been named a First Team All-American by a major/national selector as recognized and utilized by the NCAA for their consensus All-America teams; played their last year of intercollegiate football at least 10 full seasons prior; played within the last 50 years; and cannot be currently playing professional football. In all cases, the candidate's post-football record as a citizen may also be weighed.
The announcement of the 2027 NFF College Football Hall of Fame Class will be made in early 2027, with specific details to be announced in the future. The Class will be officially inducted next year during the 69th NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas and permanently immortalized at the Chick-fil-A College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta.
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