Yetur Gross-Matos

Yetur Gross-Matos's Biography

Yetur Akkub Gross-Matos, known as a formidable defensive end in the American National Football League (NFL) was born on February 26, 1998. Currently, he is a part of the influential San Francisco 49ers. Gross-Matos gained considerable attention during his college football years at Penn State, which substantially contributed to his selection by the Carolina Panthers in the second round of the 2020 NFL draft.

A native of Atlantic City, New Jersey, Yetur relocated to Fredericksburg, Virginia during his formative years. Tragically, his life was marked by two pivotal events during childhood. When he was merely two years old, his biological father lost his life in a boating accident. Despite the trauma, his father saved Yetur from drowning. Years later, when Yetur was 10, his brother was struck by lightning and died while both of them were playing baseball.

Gross-Matos matriculated at Chancellor High School, situated in Spotsylvania County, Virginia. His high school years highlighted his acumen for football, particularly with his impressive records of 37 sacks. These achievements caught the attention of the Pennsylvania State University, leading him to commit to playing college football with them.

During his 2017 freshman year, Gross-Matos actively participated in all 13 games and recorded 17 tackles with an additional 1.5 sacks. The subsequent year further showcased his football skills. As a sophomore in 2018, he started in a total of 13 games, impressing the sports community with 54 tackles and eight sacks. His junior year saw a commendable performance with 14 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks, which led Gross-Matos to make the bold decision of skipping his senior year for a chance in the 2020 NFL draft.

Opportunities opened up for Gross-Matos when he got picked by the Carolina Panthers as the 38th overall pick in the second round of the 2020 NFL draft. Emulating Chase Young, he was the second defensive end taken in the draft. His first career sack was recorded in Week 4 against the Arizona Cardinals, where he performed a strip sack on Kyler Murray and helped the Panthers recover during their 31-21 win. However, an ankle injury in Week 5 had him placed on injured reserve on October 16, 2020. He recovered and was activated on November 7, 2020, before the commencement of Week 9.

Just as he was settling back into the routine, Gross-Matos found himself placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list by his team on November 30, 2020. After battling the adverse health situation, he was reactivated on December 10. After some years, Yetur was again inflicted with a hamstring injury on October 24, 2023. Consequently, he was placed on injured reserve but was activated once again on December 2.

On the personal front, March 14, 2024, marked a significant milestone for Gross-Matos. He secured a two-year contract with the well-renowned San Francisco 49ers. This contract signified his perseverance and hard work, and today, Yetur Gross-Matos stands as a testament to the indomitable spirit of athleticism in the world of football.