Matt D'Orazio

Matthew Louis D’Orazio (born October 1, 1976) is a former American football quarterback who played in the Arena Football League (AFL). He played college football at Otterbein College.

D'Orazio was a member of the New Jersey Red Dogs, Roanoke Steam, Rochester Brigade, Buffalo Destroyers, Columbus Destroyers, Chicago Rush, Philadelphia Soul and Calgary Stampeders. He was named the MVP of ArenaBowl XX. He was also named the 2008 AFL MVP, as well as the ArenaBowl XXII MVP, both in the same season.

D'Orazio attended St. Francis DeSales High School in Columbus, Ohio, and lettered in football and basketball. In football, he was an All-State selection, and in basketball, he was an All-Conference selection.

D'Orazio originally attended Youngstown State University where he red-shirted in 1995 and played in just one game in 1996. He then set school single-season and career records for passing yards, touchdown passes and total offense at Otterbein College. While there, he passed for 8,770 yards and 73 touchdowns while rushing for 594 yards and five touchdowns during his career. In 2012, D'Orazio was inducted into the college's Athletic Hall of Fame.

Arena Football League (2000–2001)

D'Orazio entered the Arena Football League in 2000, when he signed with the Milwaukee Mustangs, where he only spent one season. Then in 2001, he signed with the New Jersey Gladiators, playing only one season there as well.

af2

Then In 2001, D'Orazio signed with the Rochester Brigade of the AFL's minor league af2, playing only one season there as well. For the season he went 324-of-522, for 3,372 passing yards, 51 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions. He also rushed for 332 yards and 20 touchdowns, an Af2 alltime record.

Arena Football League (2003–2008)

In 2003, after playing only one season in af2, D'Orazio returned to the AFL signing with the Buffalo Destroyers where he played until 2005.

In 2006, after playing for the Columbus Destroyers for three seasons, was signed as a free agent by the Chicago Rush. At the end of the 2006 season, he led the league as the top-rated passer (126.2), and the top rusher with 200 yards and 10 touchdowns. In ArenaBowl XX, he threw for 250 yards and six touchdowns, as well as rushing for two. He was named Offensive Player of the Game for his performance.

In the off-season following the 2007 season, D'Orazio was released by the Rush. The team did not want to wait until January to make a call on whether to keep him following his 2007 back injury during the playoffs. He was replaced by former Arizona Rattlers quarterback Sherdrick Bonner. In 2008, D'Orazio later signed with the Philadelphia Soul as a backup to Tony Graziani. He became the starting quarterback when Graziani was injured and was out for the season. D'Orazio was voted the AFL MVP for the season while leading Philadelphia to ArenaBowl XXII, where they defeated the San Jose SaberCats 59-56, and was named MVP of the game, as well. Along with George LaFrance, he is one of only two players to be named MVP of the ArenaBowl while playing for two different teams.

Canadian Football League (2009)

On February 13, 2009, the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League signed D'Orazio. He was released on June 25, 2009.