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Matt Cassel

QB (retired)

Matt Cassel: facts drawn from the play-by-play.

FanIQ Research · May 10, 2026 · 6 facts, every one from the play-by-play

14-year career across NE, KC, MIN, BUF, DAL, TEN, DET. 1x Pro Bowl (2010 KC). The iconic Brady backup who became a starter.

Milestone

Career regular-season totals

Stat	Total
Yards	17,578
TDs	104
INTs	85
Completions	1,589
Attempts	2,704
Comp %	58.8%

NE 2005-2008 (Brady backup, 2008 fill-in started 15 games). KC 2009-2012 (Pro Bowl 2010). Late: MIN, BUF, DAL, TEN, DET.

Trend

Cassel career arc

Stop	Years	Highlight
NE backup	2005-2007	39 total attempts
NE starter	2008	3,693 yds, 11-5 record
KC starter	2009-2012	Pro Bowl 2010 (27/7)
MIN/DAL	2013-2015	3,083 combined yards
Late tour	2016-2018	TEN, DET

His 2010 KC Pro Bowl year (27 TDs vs 7 INTs in 468 attempts) is one of the cleanest TD/INT ratios of the decade.

Split

Cassel KC peak

Year	Yds	TD/INT	Comp%
2009	2,924	16/16	55.1%
2010	3,186	27/7	57.9%
2011	1,713	10/9	59.5%

Did NOT start a single college game at USC — sat behind Carson Palmer AND Matt Leinart for 4 years, then was drafted in the 7th round.

Rare

Cassel college

Year	School	Status
2001-2004	USC	0 career starts
Backed up	Palmer + Leinart	Both Heisman winners
2005 Draft	Pick 230	NE 7th round

His 2008 NE fill-in season (3,693 yds, 21 TDs) — the best 'no prior starts' rookie-equivalent QB season since Tom Brady's 2001.

Comparison

Cassel 2008 vs prior career attempts

Year	Attempts

His 271 rushing yards in 2008 ranks among the most for any QB in his ONLY full-season starting year.

Anomaly

Cassel mobility

Year	Rush Yds	Notes
2008 NE	271	Career-high
2009 KC	196
2012 KC	145
2013 MIN	57

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