 What's up everybody and welcome to the latest edition of Falcons and Focus. I'm Scott Bear. That's Tori McElhaney Our guest left tackle and brand new dad And by brand new like November 10th brand like pretty recent We're gonna get to all that but before we get to that crazy story of How Jake made it back to see Beckett his first son be born and still play on Thursday night football crazy Let's go back to the gender reveal moment Scott has been watching this video Because it's basically the greatest reaction ever there's like there's like a smoke canister and when it goes blue Your reaction take me through the moment. Did you not know going into it? I had no idea Wow, my wife Maggie was you know leading up to it like hey, what do you what are you thinking? Do you want a boy? Do you want a girl? I just I want a healthy kid just a standard middle-of-the-road answer and Yeah, when I when I saw the blue I You know just subconsciously kind of hit me. I think it was pretty obvious what I want I was pretty excited. Yeah, you threw that I don't even know what it was called. Yeah Way up in the air. Yeah, this is the type of hard-hitting journalism that we do here on this podcast I counted it was up in the air for five seconds You must have thrown that thing to the moon. I almost felt bad afterwards because a lot of nieces and nephews running around and I think it landed like a foot away my two-year-old So yeah, I thought it hit someone probably wouldn't have been a good look. That's so funny now I want to go through the logistics of this because You'd go through the gender reveal and you obviously know the due date and it's like oh shoot This is in the right smack dab in the middle of the season How many different contingency plans did you guys have kind of going into this season? Well first and foremost, I I did a horrible job because I just kept putting it off That's months away, don't worry about it and My wife is very you know, she likes to have a plan set. So a lot of times You know give her credit and actually fault me. I was you know, what stop talking about We'll deal with it when it happens and that wasn't the best idea because I got hit with basically the worst thing that No, but we kind of The plan was for her to get induced on Sunday because he was measuring kind of big and looked like it was getting close I was like, all right all you have to do is you know, take it easy when I head out of town Wednesday and I play this game Thursday We get back. We got the whole weekend. We get this thing figured out and That did not happen He did not cooperate So I'm sure a lot of Falcons fans have kind of heard this story But take us back to it. So you get a phone call on Wednesday night or Thursday morning take us through kind of what happened because you were in Charlotte and then bang You have to go back to the ATL, right? So it kind of starts, you know short week Thursday game, you know long days I'm here all day, but Wednesday she texts me like, you know, I don't feel right. Something feels off Like I think I might be sick and I'm like, oh man, that's actually this close to like, you know The baby coming out feeling well, but she she had no idea that I think it was kind of the start of you know Labor kind of starting and she you know felt like she had like a head cold or something But it was weird. So I was like, all right, we'll just hang in there. I'll get back You know, everything's gonna be fine. Classic me push it off You're fine be fine. I'll get back. We'll be good to go for Sunday and then Little did I know actually Wednesday night She had gone to the hospital because she wasn't feeling well and she didn't tell me because she didn't want to worry Oh, no, my goodness. She wasn't she didn't think she was going into labor. Yeah, so I go to bed no idea and I wake up at like 645 and the hotel phone is ringing which is like a huge like indicator for me because You know, we don't do wake-up calls. I haven't had a wake-up call since I think my freshman year of college like so that was like right when that woke me up was like something is is wrong and I checked my phone. She's called like six times. Oh And I I start panicking and it's just what do I do what I do? I'm on the phone with her and she's like, I'm in labor. Like this is it for real and me I'm still trying to wake up. I'm like, are you sure? No Yeah, so then it was like First panic like what do I do tell me what to do and just like, I don't know you need to figure it out She's like I can't help you. Yeah, right So then it was you know, it was like we had this team put together in the in the lobby of the hotel, you know head coach Arthur Smith's there and our security people and Rich McKay and everyone we're all like, you know scrambling trying to figure out, you know How can we make this work? And at first it was like, you know, we're gonna get a private plane figured out, you know Get you there get you back. Everything's gonna be good. I was like, all right That you know that should work pretty well. It gives me a lot of time then eventually it's like 30 minutes later that it's too short notice. You got to drive like you got to make a decision right now Do you want to drive or not? And I'm like freaking out. I'm like this three-hour drive We could hit construction traffic like who knows what's gonna happen and eventually art goes Hey, make a decision like you going or not and I'm like, all right I'm going we'll figure it out and he goes we'll figure out the rest once you get there and it It was it was pretty wild that that was the point where I was like, man, this is That was the most stressful. It's like do I get in the car and leave now? Or do we you know keep trying to figure something out because there was just so much up in the air and you know uncertainties, so What did you listen to on the car rod there? That's three that I know hard-hitting questions That's three hours where you're kind of just sitting there like oh my god. Maybe just silence. I mean, yeah To build suspense any music going but oh My gosh, like I remember To because it was happening so quick that if they gave her the upper girl There was a chance that it could slow things down right, so Maggie went through natural labor for five hours. Oh my god. Just miserable because she's I mean She really is the MVP of this whole thing. Yes, you know, she's like there's a time frame I gotta get you back. So she's calling me as I'm in the car just screaming Yeah, talk about feeling like helpless and out of control. Yeah, it's it sucked and No, really at one point. I was just trying to do anything to distract myself I started watching film on my iPad for the game was like I have to do something and Yeah, we didn't stop either and needless to say I had to use the restroom a couple times Just keep on driving keep going don't stop But the the crazy thing is everything works out probably exactly how you could have wanted Beck It's got a story for ever. Yeah, and and you end up making it for the birth of your son Arthur Blank flies you back and you're there in time for warm-ups. I know wow The thing that sucked though is that he was born at 317 p.m. And I had to leave by 330. Oh my gosh. I got to hold him for like 10 minutes I was like, I love you guys. Bye I Think I tweeted out you're talking about Maggie being the MVP. I was like Jake may have like So many consecutive starts and like all this stuff But I was like the true MVP of Thursday night football was Maggie Like the fact that she even tweeted she's like I did my best like no, he's on his way back I know it's like it's supposed to be about her She's the one going through like Childhood I can't imagine, you know, of course I to selfishly take Now it's interesting though because we all know the story kind of like you do get back to the game play the game But what was it like after the game because you can you can go back home and essentially you talk about being with your son For maybe like 10 minutes and be like bye To come back home. Did you go back to the hospital as soon as y'all got back to Atlanta? Like what was that? We're talking like 2 30 in the morning, right? Yeah, I landed right and I didn't get home to almost four So she told me, you know, go home get a couple hours and You know get back to the hospital. Of course, I'm you know, I'm Another example of how great she is and how much I suck You know, I'm gonna wake up. I'm set my alarm early. I'm gonna be there. Yeah, I slept right through I was so tired. I didn't get there till about 9 30. So I felt awful No, but then I was there all day Friday spent the night there Friday night and Saturday, which Hospital couches are not fun. They're not comfortable for people who are regular size Yeah, let alone someone who's a little bit bigger than that right not a lot of space there. Yeah, yeah Again, it's like who am I to complain so I had to you know Just fight through that and you know, like I said, it's hard for me to complain because she's the one It's like I really feel it's like the adversity of the couch. It's like Versus birthing a child With a specific time frame. So yeah, but no, it was amazing because she's perfectly healthy. He's healthy even though he was you know, he didn't even make the 37 weeks. He was pretty he's technically premature and Man, just once I got back. It was awesome. Like I Grew up obviously I'm one of seven kids. So I've always been around children. I've loved kids But I you know, yeah, there was a little uncertainty like how am I gonna be as a dad and I Feel pretty confident saying it. I'm pretty good Jump right into it changing diapers everything Unphased so I'm loving it. How's your sleep schedule? I have two kids the early going not a lot of shine, right? There's crying Gosh just to Maggie's credit again, she understands like hey if you don't sleep There's a chance you'll probably get hurt Yeah, so She usually you know, she's doing the work there at the day or throughout the night and I try to help during the day But I wake up a couple times. Hey, can I help you and you know almost like a drunken Just go back to bed. I get it. So I think the Message the main point from this whole conversation should be is I have an amazing wife So I can't say that enough put that in the title of the pie Matthews has a bad-ass wife. That's what it is. Yeah now Talking about family with Beckett, you know first first son and all but your family tree is actually very interesting Because it's hard to even map out there are so many Scott and I were looking at it earlier and it has its own Wikipedia page. Did you know that does it really well? There is yeah, that is just Matthews family football and they break it down from your grandfather being drafted like in the 40s or something all the way down every detail. It's amazing a lot of time on that Yeah, no, it's very humbling and also really cool. I like bragging about it Yeah, there's been eight of us that have made it to the NFL through I guess one three generations. Yeah, so it's It's pretty amazing. I mean It all kind of starts with my my grandpa though my dad's dad. He was incredible. He was like a You know state champion boxer wrestler Drafted playing in the NFL had like a amazing life in corporate America was a CEO of a couple companies and He was the true bad-ass Yeah, but then obviously going to my dad He's pretty close up there. I want to emulate my life. It's him It's been challenging because the guy literally did it forever holds every record every accolade. So it's like No, I couldn't be more proud to have him as a father and in Sometimes kids don't get to see their dad's play because of a certain age kind of Disparity, but he played you were nine or ten and he was still playing, right? Yeah So what was that experience like maybe tell us some stories from when? Yeah Here's something to put it in perspective. He played from 1983 to 2001 That's a long time. Yeah, and especially to play this position He played all five positions on offensive line. It was really good at all five room. So any long snap, too He was the no, that's just rubbing it in. I know it's like He did the field goal long snap all 19 years any long snap for punt for 15 years And I think he actually is credited a couple tackles to So Yeah, he was really good at what he did obviously first ballad Hall of Famer and stuff But no, I think probably my coolest memory was the 1999 season their first year become the Tennessee Titans moving to Nashville and I'm seven years old just a crazy year I I remember the they called the music city miracle that you know Home run throwback play they had against the bills in the wild card game on the the kickoff return that won it for him Going to the Super Bowl, which was here in Atlanta. Yeah, which was you know, that kind of surreal, you know Circle moment, too as an adult going to the Georgia Dome as a kid and watching my dad play and then eventually that being my home stadium, too So Unfortunately, they lost that Super Bowl by one yard one of the most epic games of all time Yeah, that that year really sticks out to me for you, you know He wasn't just playing but he was coaching for a while when you're younger, too And what was what was that kind of like and and not just that but as you kind of grew older and kind of had this whole Identity in and of yourself to be like I'm pretty good at this position, too Like I I could see myself having a career in this I mean, what was he kind of like in that role as not just like dad, but coach as well Honestly, great. Some of my favorite years was when he was my online coach in high school Most fun. I've had playing football But believe it or not. I was a quarterback all the way up until my sophomore year of high school Were you all I played was quarterback and my dad just more credit to him. He was actually emergency Quarterback There's like a drastic like everyone got hurt They actually would practice sometimes where he would go in and do a couple plays like wow really was the Renaissance man And it actually punting to he literally could do everything man. I mean, that's impressive You could see where my insecurities might go But um, no just I remember my sophomore year high school They're like hey, you can be the JB quarterback or you know, we have a right tackle spot open on varsity And I remember thinking I really want one of those Letterman's I think And my dad's the online coach and I remember the first meeting Basically said you pointed at my name on the depth chart. It had me at the very bottom See this name. He's like I don't show any favorites. Jake. You're gonna be your fourth string right now By the end of the day, I was starting I was kind of a natural at it Yeah, it was it was just really great memories looking back on that does he Call like after a game Positive negative. Do you guys compare notes? Does he watch like a coach and a dad or how does he navigate that side of it? Absolutely all that stuff Yeah, he gives it to me straight. He looks good You know what needs to be improved and he's really been like a second coach to me my entire life And I I have to give him credit for a lot of the success I've had was you know stuff that we talked about and worked on and Even in the off-season like we'll go out in the field and Up to this day like I go out once a week with him on the field and move around and do some stuff and talk things through and It's just really cool to get his perspective Some tips and and things that work for him because it's you know, a lot of it's helped me and been relevant Obviously to really cool bonding experience. I mean how much to that end The fact that you kind of lived in this life for the first portion of your childhood and then to kind of have this part of The life become your own and turn and I'm talking about like NFL life. I mean To that end how much do you think like seeing your dad be what he was and still is impacted you even today now you are on, you know You have extended contracts and you've had a long tenure in the NFL already like what kind of has that Been like and how do you see that kind of being parallel to you? He definitely laid out the blueprint of how it's done. He my dad has always been a guy that You're gonna show up if you commit to something you're gonna see it through you're gonna work hard you're gonna do what the coach tells you and you know, you're not gonna make excuses and He instilled that in all of us from a young age and it sounds kind of you know, simple But I really think those things hold true like those are you know guys that act like that or you know players that coaches One on their teams and he did that his whole career. So it you know, there's no No question why he was able to stay with one organization his entire career because they loved him But no, I in all honesty, I'm I'm basically trying to copy everything he did and Yeah, no, I it's funny. I haven't thought about that in a while, but really just those things that I remember signing up for Baseball as a kid. I had a thing going where The football season was coming up and I was kind of you know tired of it. I kind of wanted to quit Oh, no, I want to focus on football and he absolutely not Committed to that. You got to finish it and see it through and I think that stuff is you know kind of carried me a long way I also I know we've been talking about your dad a while, but I I have to ask about your mom and Her role in in all this you talk about seven kids a lot of you are offensive linemen have been offensive linemen Please tell me a little bit about her and how she Kind of kept all of you guys in line. I feel like that is that seems like a very difficult No, she's the greatest there. So I'm one of seven. There's five boys two girls The youngest when my sister actually has Down syndrome too. So she's that's a full-time job. Yeah, you know taking care of her But no, she was she was incredible. I mean Couldn't have had a better childhood growing up a lot of mouths to feed. I think we I Think it was two trips weekly to the grocery store Each one was like three carts. Oh my word. Yeah, so it was that's not that's not an exaggeration No, I actually true. I remember going But um Yeah, I think the shortest guy in our family is like six to so a lot of big people a lot of you know hungry mouths and football and You know she it's funny. She's still um, she still has questions that make me laugh about the game I'm even watching But we like to give her a hard time, but no she she's incredible. Oh, I love that so much Yeah, like I would just wonder like how many gallons of milk are they going right? Like you know just like stuff like that just the sheer volume to keep these massive Honestly think we all were raised on like milk and cereal Sugary cereal and milk, you know, that's all you need as a kid And so it's not only in your Your immediate family, but you also have cousins. Yeah, and clay Matthews played for the Rams and for the Packers for a long time I started trying to do the research and then I gave up so I'll just ask you Have you ever gone one-on-one or heads up with him in an actual game? Yeah many times. I think Maybe five or six games Is is their pregame trash talk is it more competitive? I mean, I mean going up against your family member in an NFL game. That's pretty you know, yeah it a Little bit of I remember one of my rookie year. He we're playing up in Lambo Monday night and he walked by me and purposefully just you know Shouldered me really I didn't even recognize it was him absolutely He laughed looking back on it pretty funny, but in the moment probably pissed me off One of the coolest things and it it's funny too I'll similar it is to my dad because obviously my dad's brother is clay Matthews Jr. Clay Matthews senior is my grandpa, right? but He had an amazing career 16 years with Or 15 years with the Browns and he finished his last four here in Atlanta my uncle clay and My dad always say the coolest thing going up against them was during the scouting report coaches be like alright Hey, we got to look out for Bruce's brother here. He's a real good player my dad to be in the back Like that's just a lot of pride and it was funny too because I'm going against clay clay Matthews the third my cousin Same type of thing would be in meetings. Hey, don't let jigs cousin He's a good player. He's gonna finish late, you know towards the whistle and you know stuff like that. So Similar cool kind of feeling of like yeah, man, that's my cousin. We got to keep an eye out for him He's a player. That's amazing. I mean just like the family ties I mean, it's just impressive when you kind of lay it all out like it is So so I feel like Beckett is gonna be the starting left tackle for the It seems in the cards at this point if patterns tell you anything, you know Following a set pattern. It's a pretty good Career path. Yeah, that's for sure. Yeah, but again, he can be anything you want. No pressure Now to the end of the podcast. Yes, we do a rapid-fire segment, which is Five questions. Um, they're relatively easy questions. No, I'm not too hard. Um, the first one is are you? Oh wait, are you ready? Yeah, it's just like for guys on the team stuff that happens at work. We're talking kind of a little bit of everything Yeah, no, it I promise we'll get through it Together we'll do this together. Um, your favorite play of your career. Oh my gosh. Um, I Think It was a top off top off top of my head was 2019 we played Philly at home and We had that screen to Julio where I I released And Julio ran right behind me all the way for a touchdown that that was pretty cool, especially to that, you know, get a little Offense alignment. We're not really catching the winning touchdown or anything, but hey if you set someone up with a winning block That's a big deal. Yeah, you ever asked Arthur Smith given your quarterbacking history Caleb has some too, right? To ever either run a route or throw one in You gotta at least pitch him on that. I think it'd be too nervous Would you want to catch it or throw it? I'd I'd prefer to catch it Let's just throw it. I don't know with all the tape and gloves. Oh, yeah, that's probably not gonna be a good plan And you can try to catch it would be yeah That's a lot of pressure Oh Question number two What TV show are you binging or that you're just really into right now? Like how you say we cuz that's like It's like we can't watch it without each other. Yeah We're actually watching dancing with the stars There's times where I'm kind of Fantastic This one's a sweet one. What's your favorite part about being a new dad? I know it's still new. Yeah I catch myself a lot of times just holding him and like looking at him and one He looks exactly like me Mini clone of me, so it's like like the surrealness of that and seeing him just like man, this is incredible like What's he gonna be like when he grows up? I'll catch myself just like staring at him and make you becky. All right, like just in a trance I know just admiring him probably probably that holding him looking at him thinking about you know What's this kid's life? Yeah, really excited to you know be his dad. Mm-hmm Who is the Falcon that you hang out with the most? So probably germane a fatty he was my teammate at a name you guys are neighbors, right? Yeah, he lives right down We train together in Houston and He's Maggie my wife jokes that he's kind of become like an adopted child He comes like all our dinners together like Third wheels in hangs out No It's been kind of cool having him here kind of surreal too because we haven't been teammates since 2013 yeah, I think I remember like it was around we got to talk to you like right after he Signed here and you made the comment. I think then you're like yeah, this is really cool like we're teammates again Like it's pretty awesome. Yeah, I mean Texas A&M has been turning out some pretty significant offensive I'm in for a while Right, yeah, and back when you were there It was like rockstar territory because you guys had Johnny Yeah, Manzell was the quarterback and you guys were highly rated. Yeah Much now Now the dogs now the dogs are at the top baby go dogs. Okay. Last one. Um, what is your biggest pet peeve? Probably like Loud noises like it's like if someone like slams a door or This will get this is a good example And Maggie can attest to this when our dogs bark like we have one that literally it sounds like a Alarms going off like I'll like And I freak it's almost like I have like PTSD or something I don't like like loud noises like in quiet relaxing Situations like freaking it bother me. I'll start yelling and screaming Just calm down. It's like I can't like it bothers me so much If it was just a normal bark it wouldn't bother me, but it's like he's like a bloodhound sounding like screaming It it rubs me how many dogs do y'all have to we have a golden doodle and Bernie's mountain dog. Gotcha. Wow. And so when they bark if it's quiet We know only one of them the other one like So it doesn't bother me I Have found some bragging rights for you over your dad. He was taken number nine overall That's pretty low compared to you at number six. So we've got over a first ballot hall of favor So that's and then I always joke with him, too. I got a pro bowl before he did One versus his 14 But I got it a year before he got his first Jake Matthews, thank you so much for joining us next time. We gotta have Maggie the real end. Oh, yeah on this podcast And so we can look forward to that and we also look forward to you guys rate review subscribe to the Falcons podcast network And we would be back with you again next week with another great guest