What happened to Chris Matthews? Former NFL WR who vanished after epic Super Bowl 49 performance

Former Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Chris Matthews' Super Bowl 49 performance remains one of the greatest anomalies in the history of the NFL.

Matthews entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent back in 2011 after signing a practice squad deal with the Cleveland Browns. His time in the league, though, was cut short after just one season and he ended up playing for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, winning the CFL's Most Outstanding Rookie Award in the process.

Following his impressive CFL performance, Matthews was signed by the Seattle Seahawks on a two-year deal. The wideout, who was suspected to mostly be a fringe player, came to life in the team's 2014 playoff run where he recovered a critical onside kick during the NFC title game.

The wide receiver played in the resulting Super Bowl tie, but no one could have predicted the scintillating performance he was about to put up against the New England Patriots.

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Chris Matthews' Super Bowl 49 performance one for the ages

Facing the likes of Russell Wilson and Co., the Patriots surely had much more to worry about than Matthews, who had never had an NFL catch before. But during the game, he pulled off his first in-game catch, a 44-yard stunner from Russell Wilson.

Minutes later, he hauled in a 11-yard reception for a touchdown at the end of the first half. Matthews ended the game with four receptions amounting to 109 yards, but despite his best efforts, the Patriots went on to win the Super Bowl 28–24.

His stunning display put him up for consideration as Super Bowl MVP, but it was ultimately Tom Brady who walked away with that honor.

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Where is Chris Matthews now after Super Bowl 49?

Unfortunately, enough for Matthews, his career peaked at Super Bowl 49. With not much to show for after his heroic display, the Seahawks released him in November 2015.

The Baltimore Ravens took a chance on the promising wide receiver but that opportunity quickly faded away as he missed the entire season due to an injury during a preseason game.

The Ravens cut Matthews and thus marked the end of his NFL career. Ever since, the wideout has jumped around teams across different teams. Some notable teams include the Calgary Stampeders, Montreal Alouettes, and a return to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 2019.

The wide receiver last played for the Bombers that very same year after being cut at the end of the 2019 season, thus marking the end of what was a roller-coaster of a career.