Matt Flynn
QB #10 — Green Bay Packers
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About Matt Flynn
Matt Flynn is the patron saint of backup quarterbacks, a man who parlayed one extraordinary performance into a career that defied all reasonable expectations. On January 1, 2012, with the Packers resting their starters in a meaningless regular season finale, Flynn threw for 480 yards and six touchdowns against the Detroit Lions. It was the greatest audition tape in NFL history. The Seattle Seahawks watched that game and immediately signed him to a contract worth $26 million. He was then beaten out in camp by a third-round rookie named Russell Wilson, which is the kind of cosmic punchline that only football can deliver.
Flynn's legend is specifically about the gap between the one game and the contract. He played sparingly for years in Green Bay, stepped in for one magical afternoon, and turned it into generational wealth. He is the answer to the question "what if you only needed one great day at work to set up your entire career." Packers fans remember him with genuine affection, because his big game was pure entertainment with zero stakes, the rarest kind of football joy. He threw touchdowns like a man who knew this was his shot and intended to leave absolutely nothing on the table.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was Matt Flynn's famous six-touchdown game?
In Week 17 of the 2011 season, with the Packers already locked into their playoff seed, Matt Flynn started against the Lions and threw for 480 yards and six touchdowns. The game had no postseason implications for Green Bay, but it had massive implications for Flynn's bank account. Seattle signed him that offseason to be their starter, making him one of the highest-paid backups-turned-free-agents in NFL history. Then Russell Wilson showed up.
Last updated: April 2026