Matt Cercone

Matthew Anthony Cercone (November 30, 1975 – November 27, 2009) was an American professional football tight end who played with the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League and the Barcelona Dragons of NFL Europe. He played college football at Bakersfield College and Arizona State.

Early life Cercone was born on November 30, 1975, in Bakersfield, California, to Mike and Nancy Cercone. He had one sister, Bronwyn. He attended South High School in Bakersfield, where he played high school football.

College football career

Bakersfield College Cercone started attending Bakersfield College in 1995, though he did not play any games his first year. However, in his sophomore year, he was named J. C. Gridwire All-American and first-team All-Western State Conference.

According to Bakersfield head coach Dallas Grider, Cercone "was a typical Kern County kid: a hard-working, tough son of a gun" who "had good agility for a man his size and he could run." He was used as a spot start tight end and was noted for being good at run and pass blocking.

In 1997, he recorded 8 receptions for 99 yards, scoring two touchdowns. In 1998, he recorded 10 receptions for 102 yards and scored one touchdown. He spent training camp with the Vikings,

The Vikings re-signed him to the team on February 1, 2000, and put him on the practice squad on February 5.

Barcelona Dragons (first stint)

On February 22, 2000, the Vikings allocated Cercone to NFL Europe. He was promoted to the regular roster on November 15 to play in two games: a November 19 matchup against the Carolina Panthers and a November 23 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys. Both games were wins for the Vikings. He was inactive for a November 30 game against the Detroit Lions, and re-signed to the practice squad on December 6. He remained there through the end of the postseason. but was inactive for the first game of the season. He played in the next three games, which were against the Buffalo Bills, the Carolina Panthers, and the Seattle Seahawks. The Vikings lost all three games, He went to play for the Dragons in the spring of that year, but his contract with the Jaguars remained in effect until August 30, 2003, when he was waived by the team.

New England Patriots

Cercone was signed by the New England Patriots on July 23, 2004. He was released by the team eight days later, on August 1.

Death Cercone died in his sleep in Phoenix, Arizona, on November 27, 2009, three days before his 34th birthday.