Career Summary

Wayne Matthews is a linebacker who played at Old Dominion and Michigan State.

He joined the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent after their 2026 rookie minicamp.

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Early Life

Matthews is from Largo, Maryland.

Michigan State identifies his full name as Wayne Eugene Matthews III and his parents as Wayne Matthews Jr. and Yolanda West.

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High School

Matthews attended Charles Herbert Flowers High School.

He earned first-team all-county honors as a sophomore in 2018 and helped Flowers reach the state quarterfinals in 2019.

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College Career

Matthews transferred to Michigan State in January 2024.

He spent 2021 through 2023 at Old Dominion, where he recorded 148 tackles. His two Michigan State seasons produced 106 tackles across 21 games.

Michigan State credits him with 254 career tackles, 14 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks across 47 college games.

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Path to the NFL

Matthews earned a Bears contract following a tryout.

He participated in Chicago's rookie minicamp on a tryout basis and signed as an undrafted free agent on May 11, 2026.

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NFL Career

Matthews joined Chicago's practice squad after the preseason.

The Bears announced his practice-squad signing on September 1, 2026.

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Career Accomplishments

Matthews earned third-team All-Sun Belt honors at Old Dominion.

In 2023, he recorded 135 tackles, ranking second in the conference and 11th nationally in the FBS.

Section reviewed 2026-09-15