Matthew Bergeron has gone from an unknown camp invite to one of the NFL’s most talked-about young offensive linemen, and the Syracuse alum is drawing serious attention as he helps fuel the Atlanta Falcons’ 2-2 start.
Bergeron’s rise is a sharp one. Born in Canada, he grew up playing gridiron football, not American football, before arriving at a Syracuse camp with a group of Canadian prospects.
He wasn’t on the staff’s radar when he showed up. That changed quickly.
After a few reps, Syracuse offered him a scholarship, and he committed soon after.
From there, Bergeron became a key piece for the Orange. At 6-foot-5 and 315 pounds, he played in 46 games over four seasons and earned two All-ACC selections. The Falcons then took him in the second round of the 2023 draft, and in August he signed a four-year, $96 million extension with the team.
The latest praise came after Atlanta’s 45-24 win over the New Orléans Saints on Monday night. NFL Insider Brian Baldinger reacted on social media with a blunt endorsement of Bergeron’s play:
"Bergeron that's about as good as you can get in the league (NFL)"
Baldinger, a former offensive lineman, played more than 10 seasons in the NFL before moving into broadcasting. His résumé includes work with NFL Network and Fox Sports.
If Bergeron keeps stacking performances like this, an All-Pro nod could be in play for the first time in his career. He’ll have another high-profile stage Sunday night when the Falcons host the Baltimore Ravens on NBC.
Kickoff is set for 8:20 p.m. ET.
Back in Syracuse, the Orange are preparing for a road trip to Charlottesville, Va., where they’ll face the Virginia Cavaliers on Saturday. DraftKings lists Syracuse as a 9 1/2-point underdog.
Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET.
Syracuse enters the game at 2-2 after edging UConn 42-41 on Saturday. The program has gone 13 straight years without producing a first-round NFL draft pick, though current defensive back Chris Peal could potentially end that streak in 2027.
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