This Panther Is Still on the Prowl

Fresh off Loss in Super Bowl, Matt Willig Wants to Return to Carolina Next Season

Years from now, even the most ardent sports fans probably won’t remember who wore No. 71 for the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl XXXVIII. That’s perfectly fine with the man in the jersey, 6-8, 315-lb offensive right tackle Matt Willig. Willig cares far more about helping his team win than gaining notoriety, which is but one reason why he has lasted 12 seasons in the National Football League. “This season was one of the most fun I’ve ever had in the NFL,” said Willig, who signed with Carolina as a free agent in August–about a year after moving to the Pacific Palisades bluffs with his wife Chris. “I joined the St. Louis Rams halfway through the year they won the Super Bowl. It was cool getting a ring but I sort of felt like I was along for the ride. I feel more a part of what this team accomplished because I was there from the start.” Though he played in every game for the Panthers, including their 32-29 loss to New England in the Super Bowl two weeks ago in Houston, many of Willig’s contributions went unnoticed by the media and the fans, but not by his teammates or coaches. “I’m going to be the answer to a trivia question someday,” Willig joked. “I was called for the first penalty of the game. We were lined up to block [New England kicker] Adam Vinatieri’s first field goal attempt and I got caught for delay of game because I moved my arm. It moved him five yards closer and I’d like to think that’s why he missed the kick.” Perhaps Willig’s biggest contribution to the Panthers’ success this season came off the field, not on it. He served as a mentor to Carolina’s starting right tackle, first-round draft choice Jordan Gross. “Jordan had a phenomenal year and I’d like to think I had something to do with that,” Willig said. “If it means I didn’t get to play as much, so be it. I’m just happy to say I was part of a winning team and I played in one of the best Super Bowls ever.” Willig grew up in La Mirada and played football at St. Paul High in Santa Fe Springs. He was a standout defensive end under Larry Smith at USC, where he played two seasons with current Panthers teammate, back-up quarterback Rodney Peete. Willig entered the NFL in 1992 and switched to tackle as a rookie with the New York Jets, where he spent the first three seasons of his pro career. The defensive coordinator there was current USC head coach Pete Carroll. “I haven’t been back to see a game at USC in five years, but it’s great to see them doing so well,” Willig said of his alma mater. “They had an unbelievable season just like we [the Panthers] did. We were called the ‘Cardiac Cats’ because we won so many close games, but it seemed like the Trojans were blowing everybody out.” Prior to joining the Panthers, Willig spent three years with the San Francisco 49’ers. He played the last three quarters at left tackle in one of the biggest comebacks in NFL postseason history when the 49’ers rallied to beat the Giants in overtime two years ago. Willig started a career-high 13 games at right tackle for the Atlanta Falcons in 1997, then had a short stint with the Green Bay Packers before winning a Super Bowl with the St. Louis Rams in 1999. Though he spent the majority of the season backing up Gross on the right side, Willig plays equally well at either tackle position. “That’s why I’ve lasted so long in the league, because I’ve played both sides,” he said. “The versatility I have is my biggest asset. A lot of guys are only used to playing one side or the other and that’s usually determined by whether they are right or left handed. I can play both the right or left side.” Willig said the game hasn’t changed much since his rookie season, but situational substitutions have made it harder for offensive linemen: “You used to line up against the same guy all game. Now it’s harder because the defenses have so many different schemes and formations that on one set of downs you might be matched against a different guy every play.” Life in the NFL can be stressful not only for players but also their families. “I would say it’s difficult, but worth it,” Chris said while playing with their 14-month old daughter Amber. “It’s certainly never boring but it’s not always as glamorous as it seems. You have to get used to moving around a lot, but the great thing for us is that no matter where Matt is playing we’ll be here after the season. This is home.” Even though he’s only 35, Willig is considered a dinosaur by NFL standards. He’s managed to have a successful career but at the same time stay relatively anonymous–and that’s the way Willig likes it. “I’ve never played for the money or the fame. I play because it’s what I love to do. I know I won’t be able to do this forever. The last few years I’ve had problems with my knees, but if I can play two or three more years I’ll be pretty happy with that.” As he enters the twilight of his career, Willig hopes he’s still donning a Carolina jersey when training camp starts in the spring. “I feel good about the situation I’m in and I’d definitely love to stay at Carolina and build on what we did this year,” he said. “But if there’s one thing I’ve learned in this league it’s that you have to be ready for anything.”