John Matsko

John Matsko joined the Baltimore Ravens as the team's offensive line coach on January 31, 2008. Matsko, a 35-year coaching veteran, built a successful NFL coaching resume with the Kansas City Chiefs, St. Louis Rams, New York Giants, New Orleans Saints, and Phoenix Cardinals.

For the past 2 seasons, Matsko served as offensive line coach for the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs' blocking unit helped pave the way for a rushing attack that ranked 5th in the AFC in 2006, averaging 133.9 rushing yards per game. Using 5 different starting combinations on the offensive front due to injuries, Matsko still assembled units that consistently opened holes for Pro Bowl RB Larry Johnson. Johnson established franchise single-season records with 1,789 rushing yards and 11 100-yard rushing performances. The running back's 416 carries in 2006 were also an NFL single-season record. 

Under Matsko's guidance in 2006, G Will Shields earned his 12th Pro Bowl berth while G Brian Waters was named to the AFC Pro Bowl squad for a third consecutive year. Developing talent is nothing new to Matsko, who tutored 7-time Pro Bowler G Adam Timmerman while with St. Louis.

Arguably Matsko's most impressive season came in 2004, when St. Louis achieved an NFC Divisional Playoff berth with an injury-plagued offensive line. Having lost starting T Kyle Turley prior to the season and starting C Dave Wohlabaugh on opening day, the Rams started 9 different players along the line throughout the year. With Matsko's experience, St. Louis' offense battled its way to the playoffs and helped claim a 27-20 Wild Card win at Seattle (1/8/05).

While with the Rams, Matsko directed the offensive line for one of the most prolific offenses in NFL history. In each of Matsko's 1st 3 seasons with the club, St. Louis led the NFL in total offense while producing 3 NFL MVPs in the process – QB Kurt Warner (1999, 2001) and RB Marshall Faulk (2000). He was a member of the Rams' team that cruised to a 13-3 regular season record in 1999 and a victory over the Tennessee Titans in Super Bowl XXXIV. Matsko also contributed to the Rams' offensive juggernaut that posted a franchise-best 540 points and averaged a league-best 442.2 yards per game the following year.

Prior to coaching in St. Louis, Matsko spent 2 seasons overseeing the New York Giants' offensive line from 1997-98. He held the same position with New Orleans from 1994-96, where he helped former Chiefs T Willie Roaf earn his 1st 3 Pro Bowl berths. Matsko originally joined the NFL coaching ranks in 1992 with the Phoenix Cardinals, taking on offensive line duties for head coach Joe Bugel. Thanks to the efforts of Matsko's unit in 1992, Phoenix RB Ronald Moore became the 1st Cardinals' rusher to top the 1,000-yard barrier since the 1985 campaign.

Before entering the NFL, Matsko enjoyed 5 years on the coaching staff at the University of Southern California, overseeing the offensive line from 1987-88 and directing the offense from 1989-91. During his tenure with the Trojans, he helped produce 3 consecutive Rose Bowl appearances (1987-89), and had offensive linemen take home all-conference honors on 7 occasions, including former NFL Pro Bowl T Tony Boselli, who was named All-Pac 10 as a freshman in 1991.

The Mentor, Ohio native sandwiched 13 seasons in the collegiate ranks around 1 year as the head coach at Danbury High School in Lakeside Marblehead, Ohio in 1976. Matsko kicked off his coaching career as a student assistant at Kent State before spending 3 years at Miami (Ohio) University, where he earned his master's degree in education while serving as a graduate assistant (1974-75) and offensive line coach (1977). From 1978-84, Matsko enjoyed a 7-year stint as the offensive coordinator/offensive line coach at the University of North Carolina before moving on to instruct the offensive line for the U.S. Naval Academy in 1985 and the University of Arizona in 1986.

The Kent State alum earned his bachelor's degree in business education in 1973. Born February 2, 1951, in Cleveland, Ohio, John and his wife, Kim, have 4 children: daughters Marie and Liz, and sons John and Michael.