Matt Waletzko

Matt Waletzko (born December 15, 1999) is an American football offensive tackle for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at North Dakota.

Early years
Waletzko grew up in Cold Spring, Minnesota and attended Rocori High School. He was a two-way player as a senior.

College career
Waletzko was a member of the North Dakota Fighting Hawks for four seasons. The team pulled his redshirt designation, allowing him to play in nine games and start the final five contests of the season at left tackle as a true freshman.

Waletzko started the first six games of his sophomore season before suffering a season-ending knee injury (torn left ACL).

He started all seven of UND's games during his junior season, which was shortened and played in the spring of 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and was named second-team All-Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC). He was part of an offensive line that led the Football Championship Subdivision and ranked third in the nation in sacks allowed (2) and led the nation with the fewest number of negative plays (24).

Waletzko started the first ten games of his senior season before missing his final game due to a left shoulder injury and was named first-team All-MVFC. He was part of an offensive line that led the Football Championship Subdivision and ranked third in the nation in sacks allowed (3), while ranking second in the Missouri Valley Conference and fifth in the nation in fewest negative plays allowed (5).

Professional career
Waletzko was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the fifth round (155th overall) of the 2022 NFL Draft. The Cowboys previously obtained the selection in the trade that sent Amari Cooper to the Cleveland Browns. He was given a chance to compete with second-year player Josh Ball for the reserve swing tackle position. He suffered a shoulder subluxation, when his previous injury resurfaced during the second practice of training camp. He missed most of the preseason with the shoulder injury that eventually would require surgery. He played in the third preseason game against the Seattle Seahawks. He played mostly on special teams in the first three games of the season. His only offensive snap was a play that helped spring running back Ezekiel Elliott for a 1-yard touchdown in a 23-16 win against the New York Giants. He again suffered a left shoulder subluxation while practicing for the seventh game of the season. He was placed on injured reserve on October 22, 2022.

On August 30, 2023, Waletzko was placed on injured reserve. He was activated on December 27, 2023.