Matt Bryant Steven Matt Bryant ( born May 29 , 1975 in Orange , Texas ) is an American football placekicker for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League . He was signed by the Frankfurt Galaxy as a street free agent in 2002 . He played college football at Baylor . Bryant has also been a member of the New York Giants , Indianapolis Colts , Miami Dolphins , Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Florida Tuskers . Early years . After playing football and baseball at Bridge City High School in Bridge City , Texas where he still holds the record for longest field goal , Bryant would go on to attend Trinity Valley Community College in Athens , Texas where he was a two - time NJCAA All - American and a member of the 1994 national championship team . He then signed with Oregon State University , later transferring to Baylor University where he ranks seventh in all - time scoring list with 105 points ( 21 field goals and 42 extra point s ) also his 21 field goals place him fifth in Bears history and hit 42 - 42 extra points to set the school record with a 100 percent success rate . After graduating , he went undrafted and worked for several years at a pawn shop , and then as a personal trainer . Professional career . NFL Europe . Bryant had brief stints with the Iowa Barnstormers of the Arena Football League and the Frankfurt Galaxy of NFL Europe . New York Giants , Indianapolis Colts and Miami Dolphins . Originally signed by the New York Giants in 2002 as a free agent , he remained until he was cut by Tom Coughlin in the coach ' s initial season with the team . After that release , Bryant played one week with the Indianapolis Colts and then 3 weeks with the Miami Dolphins . Tampa Bay Buccaneers . Bryant was signed as a free agent by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers prior to the 2005 season . On October 22 , 2006 , Bryant successfully converted a 62 - yard field goal as time expired in Tampa Bay ' s 23 - 21 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles . The field goal was the second longest in NFL history , behind the 63 - yarders kicked by Tom Dempsey in 1970 , Jason Elam in 1998 , Sebastian Janikowski in 2011 , and David Akers in 2012 . On October 23 , 2006 , in response to his 62 - yard field goal , Mayor Pam Iorio declared October 23 to be " Matt Bryant Day " in Tampa , Florida . On September 5 , 2009 , the Buccaneers released Bryant and replaced him with Mike Nugent . On October 5 , 2009 , the Buccaneers cut Nugent after he missed two field goals in Washington in the team ' s three point loss . Florida Tuskers . Prior to the start of the 2009 season , the Florida Tuskers signed Bryant to a contract . Atlanta Falcons . Bryant was signed by the Atlanta Falcons on December 1 , 2009 , to replace kicker , Jason Elam . In the 2012 divisional playoffs against the Seattle Seahawks , Bryant kicked the game - winning 49 - yard field goal to send the Falcons to the NFC Championship Game . Personal . Bryant participated in 2002 United Way Hometown Huddle by conducting a football clinic at the Highbridge Center for members of Alianza Dominicana , a local United Way agency that services families in Washington Heights . He visited the Keller Army Community Hospital at West Point to participate in the Foundation for Hospital Art ’ s Paintfest 2003 . Bryant drinks a chocolate milkshake on the night before each of his football games . He also is known for squeezing his size 10 . 5 foot into a size 9 kicking shoe for games . Matt is married to Melissa and the couple had six children . On September 24 , 2008 , their youngest son Tryson died in his sleep , age three months , apparently from sudden infant death syndrome ( SIDS ) . Despite that tragedy , a day after his son ' s funeral , he returned to play and kicked three field goals for the team to beat Green Bay Packers , having kicked the game - winning field goal the week before against Chicago Bears in overtime . After the season , Matt and Melissa established the Matthew Tryson Bryant Foundation to raise awareness for SIDS . Proceeds go to the March of Dimes .