Matt Goncalves has always picked himself up.
Back when his two older brothers knocked him down playing basketball in front of their cul de sac home in Manorville. And when they bullied him a bit while sledding on snowy days in the neighborhood sump.
And certainly last September when the offensive tackle — in his redshirt senior season with Pittsburgh — injured his left big toe during the third game of the year. He missed the remaining nine games, but stayed in shape and rehabbed in time to impress scouts during the NFL Combine and pro days.
Goncalves’ resilience — along with the toughness his big brothers instilled while growing up — paid off Friday night when the Indianapolis Colts selected the imposing 6-foot-6, 327-pound lineman with the 79th overall pick in Round 3 of the 2024 NFL Draft.
It’s no wonder Goncalves, 23, and his brothers, Billy, 29, and 28-year-old Chris huddled for a lengthy, tear-filled group hug immediately after watching the Colts announce Goncalves’ selection.
“Matt got tough from his brothers just beating him down all those years,” Goncalves’ dad Bill told Greater Long Island today. “They took no prisoners and did not take it easy on him because he was their little brother. But Matt always picked himself up.
“They all embraced for what seemed like a minute — just totally crying and being happy. And that just shows you how close they are,” Bill Goncalves continued. “And that as a father was maybe the most important thing of the night to me. To see my three boys embracing. Billy and Chris are Matt’s biggest fans.”
Indeed, it’s difficult not to get choked up a little while watching the video of Goncalves’ selection during the draft party at Bill Goncalves’ Port Jefferson Station home.
The dream becomes reality
Goncalves, an Eastport-South Manor High School alumnus, gathered with his father, brothers and some 30 other relatives and friends to watch the second and third rounds of the draft, and wait for his name to be called.
As the selections before him ticked off about every five minutes — including offensive tackles that Goncalves had been rated higher then — the draft party mood grew somewhat tense, Bill Goncalves acknowledged.
“Matt has a lot of pride, not pride in a bad way, but pride in a good way of who he is and the player he is,” Bill Goncalves said. “So, as I was seeing player by player go off the board, I could sense his stress. But then when his name was called, it was just total and pure excitement.”
To be sure, there was absolute jubilation in the room as Matt Goncalves donned a Colts baseball cap and his biggest supporters celebrated with him.
Just seconds earlier, Goncalves had received a phone call from Colts general manager Chris Ballard.
“Welcome to Indy, man. It’s Chris Ballard, GM,” Ballard said. “We’re picking you right here, man. We are excited to get you. We had to move up (in the draft) to make sure we didn’t lose you in the next few picks. You’re going to do great here.”
You’ll have to excuse Goncalves’ “French” during his impulsive and wildly excited reaction.
“Let’s go! Let’s go! I’m a f—en Colt, baby. I’m a f—en Colt,” Goncalves shouted as he and his crew at home rejoiced. “You won’t regret it!”
“There’s no doubt you’re going to fit in, big guy,” Ballard said laughing, before handing the phone over to Indianapolis’ second-year head coach Shane Steichen.
Hearing the joy expressed by Goncalves and his family, Steichen said, “You guys fired up? I can hear that family. We’re fired up too.
“We’re excited. We can’t wait to get you here,” the coach added.
Goncalves also assured the coach that the Colts will not regret picking him.
Up next for Goncalves is about a week of some quality time with family and friends on Long Island, before heading out to Indianapolis for rookie camp around May 10.
Bill Goncalves estimated his son had about 30 visits with teams across the country in recent months, including Seattle, Pittsburgh, New Orleans, Dallas, Buffalo and the New York Jets.
The proud father, who’s extremely excited that the Colts will play the Jets and the Giants in New York in 2024, said his son is up for the challenge of playing in the NFL.
“Matthew is a really good boy in a very polite, humble, respectful way. But when he gets in a football environment on a field or in a locker room, he’s an alpha male. There’s no one tougher than him,” Bill Goncalves said. “And he won’t be an a–h— to his teammates. But he’ll take no prisoners on the football field and in the locker rooms. I really do expect good things from him.”
To properly celebrate Matt Goncalves’ accomplishment, the family is holding a party at Rock Hill Golf and Country Club in Manorville on Sunday, with about 120 relatives and friends expected to come.
Top image: Still from video (Courtesy of Bill Concalves).
GLI’s draft night story on Goncalves
