Matthew Connor Hennessy, a center with the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League, was born on November 17, 1997. At Temple, he played collegiate football.
He attended Don Bosco Preparatory High School in Ramsey, New Jersey, where he received his diploma. Hennessy, a 3-star offensive tackle recruit, selected Temple over offers to play collegiate football from schools including Air Force, Army, Florida Atlantic, Old Dominion, and Yale.
As a true freshman, Hennessy started one game at left guard and participated in three more before sitting out the remainder of the campaign. With the exception of the one game he missed due to injury, he started every game as the Owls’ starting center during his redshirt freshman season.
Hennessy acquired a single-digit jersey (number three), which he wore throughout practice because offensive linemen are not allowed to wear single-digit numbers during actual games. Hennessy was one of the nine toughest players on the team entering his redshirt sophomore season.
The Atlanta Falcons selected Hennessy with the 78th overall choice in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft. He is now wearing jersey number 61 and serving as the team’s center. Thomas Hennessy, Hennessy’s older brother, is the long snapper for the New York Jets.
Meet Andrea and Tom Hennessy
Matt Hennessey was born to his parents Andrea Hennessey and Tom Hennessey on November 19, 1997. Hennessy was raised in Bardonia, New York, but was born in Nyack, New York.
Matt attributes the example set by his brother and the early instillation of strong academic ideals by his mother and father, Tom.