Atlanta Falcons offensive tackle Jake Matthews (70) Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Falcons OT Jake Matthews building on league-best ironman streak

By Cory Woodroof | Last updated 11/18/22

No NFL player has been more durable in recent memory than Atlanta Falcons left tackle Jake Matthews.

The longtime blind spot protector will build on his ironman streak Sunday.

With a projected 138th start for Atlanta's home game on Sunday against the Chicago Bears, Matthews will continue to build on his streak. He already has the most consecutive starts for any active NFL player.

Jake Matthews has started 137 consecutive games at left tackle, the longest active streak in the @NFL
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) November 18, 2022

Matthews is ahead of Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce (132 games) and Washington Commanders left tackle Charles Leno (121 games).

The son of Pro Football Hall of Fame offensive lineman Bruce Matthews, Jake Matthews has started at left tackle for the Falcons since being drafted sixth overall in the 2014 NFL Draft.

He's the only player left on the roster besides defensive tackle Grady Jarrett to play on the Falcons' 2016 NFC Championship team.

On Nov. 10, his wife delivered their first child on the same day the Falcons were slated to play the Carolina Panthers on "Thursday Night Football."

Matthews somehow found a way to drive back to Atlanta for the birth and fly back to Charlotte with Falcons owner Arthur Blank for the evening's game. The ironman streak stayed alive.

Having just turned 30 in February, Matthews has plenty of football ahead of him. With the Falcons slated for seven more games in 2022, the left tackle will have plenty of more run to build on his streak.

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