Matt Russell was drafted No. 130 overall by the Detroit Lions in the 1997 NFL Draft out of Colorado College. 14 regular-season games · 2 career approximate value
- Overall pick
- #130
- Round
- 4
- Draft class
- 1997
- NFL games
- 14
- Career AV
- 273rd at Colorado College
The pick
How Matt Russell came off the board in 1997.
- Position
- Linebacker LB
- College
-
Colorado College
- Side of the ball
- Defense
NFL career
14 regular-season games · 2 career approximate value
- Games played
- 14
- Career approximate value
- 273rd among Colorado College picks
- AV with the drafting club
- 2100% of career value
- Final season
- 19970 years after the draft
Around pick 130
Who came off the board on either side of Matt Russell.
Temple
Ohio State
East Carolina
Nebraska
Colorado College in the 1997 draft
Teammates who went in the same class.
Other LB picks from Colorado College
The program's most accomplished players at the same spot.
Colorado College · 2× All-Pro · 3× Pro Bowl
#181
Greg Biekert
LB · LV · 1993
Colorado College
#57
Ted Johnson
LB · NE · 1995
Colorado College
#64
Sam Rogers
LB · BUF · 1994
Colorado College
#100
Hannibal Navies
LB · CAR · 1999
Colorado College
#218
Brad Jones
LB · GB · 2009
Colorado College
About this draft profile
Last updated Aug 24, 2026
Matt Russell in the 1997 NFL Draft
Matt Russell is a Linebacker out of Colorado College selected No. 130 overall by the Detroit Lions in the 1997 NFL Draft. 14 regular-season games · 2 career approximate value Colorado College has produced 132 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 Matt Russell drafted?
Matt Russell was selected No. 130 overall by the Detroit Lions in the 1997 NFL Draft (Rd 4). Full pick detail at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1997/matt-russell.
What college did Matt Russell play for?
Matt Russell played college football at Colorado College. See every Colorado College draft pick at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/schools/colorado-college-tigers.
How did Matt Russell's NFL career turn out?
14 regular-season games · 2 career approximate value Career outcome data at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1997/matt-russell.