SCRANTON -- Matt McGloin has gone from undrafted rookie free agent to starting quarterback for the Oakland Raiders and Sunday he had his shot to show the world what he could do.
With mixed emotions of nervousness and excitement, Paul and Cathy McGloin braced themselves for the moment they had dreamed of since their son Matt, first started playing football, as a boy.
Sunday, surrounded by family and friends,inside their west Scranton home, they watched as Matt started under center for the for Oakland Raiders and with his first pass of the game, McGloin made it count.
Matt became the first undrafted rookie free agent quarterback with 3 touchdown passes in a game in 26 years.
McGloin led the raiders to a 28-23 win. While making an impact in the league, and making his parents proud.
Fans in Scranton's West Side were also watching at home and at sports bars.
Matt McGloin was a member of the Super 16 dream team when he played high school ball. But few thought he was destined for to play division one football. Let alone in the national football league.
McGloin didn't let that stop him. He was a walk-on at Penn State and finally earned the starting role in 2010. He proved the naysayers wrong and led the Nittany Lions to nearly two dozen wins.
Then he took his talents to the Oakland Raiders as an undrafted free agent this season.
At Haggerty's Tavern on Main Avenue, people who knew Matt growing up were thrilled to see him throw three touchdowns for the Raiders.
McGloin's coach at West Scranton had the game on at home, Mike DeAntona says the quarterback does not like to lose and works hard, getting him to this day, a starter in the NFL.
"Matt's always had a lot of confidence in himself, in his ability and i think one of his greatest characteristics is his competitiveness. Now to finally see him realize his dream in the NFL is really something special and amazing," said DeAntona.
While there's no telling how long Matt McGloin will be the starting quarterback, his performance Sunday was enough to have former NFL quarterbacks speak highly of him.