Bruce Matthews was drafted No. 9 overall by the Houston Oilers in the 1983 NFL Draft out of USC. 296 regular-season games · 19 seasons as a starter · 138 career approximate value
- Overall pick
- #9
- Round
- 1
- Draft class
- 1983
- NFL games
- 296
- Years as starter
- 19
- Career AV
- 1381st at USC
- Pro Bowls
- 14
- All-Pro
- 7
The pick
How Bruce Matthews came off the board in 1983.
- Position
- Guard G
- College
-
USC
Big Ten at the draft
- Side of the ball
- Offense
NFL career
296 regular-season games · 19 seasons as a starter · 138 career approximate value
- Games played
- 296
- Seasons as a starter
- 19
- Career approximate value
- 1381st among USC picks
- AV with the drafting club
- 138100% of career value
- Final season
- 200118 years after the draft
- Accolades
- Hall of Fame · 7× All-Pro · 14× Pro Bowl
Around pick 9
Who came off the board on either side of Bruce Matthews.
Penn State
Mississippi State
Clemson · 1× Pro Bowl
Pittsburgh
USC in the 1983 draft
Teammates who went in the same class.
USC · 3× All-Pro · 6× Pro Bowl
#26
Don Mosebar
C · LV
USC · 3× Pro Bowl
#57
George Achica
DT · IND
USC
#94
August Curley
LB · DET
USC
#99
Kelly Thomas
T · TB
USC
#117
Riki Ellison
LB · SF
USC
#120
Byron Darby
DE · PHI
USC
#171
Jeff Simmons
WR · LAR
USC
#200
Troy West
DB · LAR
USC
#327
John Harvey
DT · GB
USC
Other G picks from USC
The program's most accomplished players at the same spot.
About this draft profile
Last updated Aug 24, 2026
Bruce Matthews in the 1983 NFL Draft
Bruce Matthews is a Guard out of USC selected No. 9 overall by the Houston Oilers in the 1983 NFL Draft. 296 regular-season games · 19 seasons as a starter · 138 career approximate value USC has produced 252 NFL draft picks since 1980.
Where this data comes from
Pick order and career outcomes come from the nflverse draft archive; position, measurables, and conference at the time of the draft come from the college feed. Career columns stay empty until a player logs regular-season snaps.
Frequently asked questions
Where was Bruce Matthews drafted?
Bruce Matthews was selected No. 9 overall by the Houston Oilers in the 1983 NFL Draft (Rd 1). Full pick detail at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1983/bruce-matthews.
What college did Bruce Matthews play for?
Bruce Matthews played college football at USC in the Big Ten. See every USC draft pick at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/schools/usc-trojans.
How did Bruce Matthews's NFL career turn out?
296 regular-season games · 19 seasons as a starter · 138 career approximate value Accolades: Hall of Fame · 7× All-Pro · 14× Pro Bowl. Career outcome data at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1983/bruce-matthews.