When acting, Matthew McConaughey is at the top of his game — an Oscar winner, with roles only he could have portrayed so perfectly. But when he’s not acting and being his true self, he’s a football fan, particularly a Texas Longhorns fan, having been born and raised in the Lone Star State.
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If you’re an avid college football game fan, you’ve probably spotted McConaughey on Texas sidelines from time to time. He seems to enjoy it quite a bit, and jets off the Longhorns’ games whenever he is free. He isn’t just there to click selfies, though; the ‘Dallas Buyers Club’ actor always basks on the sidelines, interacts with fans, talks to the players, and surely, offers them advice as well.
Things, however, have changed drastically in the past few years, as McConaughey revealed on ‘The Eli Manning Show.’ The actor surprisingly stated that he is no longer as connected to the players as he used to be. And it’s because of head coach Steve Sarkisian, who has elevated the program to great heights by being a “singular voice.”
McConaughey, however, doesn’t want to disrupt that; in fact, he respects it deeply.
“Sark, he wants to be the singular voice for that team… There’s nothing against me saying anything to the team, but I like that he’s not looking for another outside voice.”
While McConaughey is keeping his distance from the players, the spotlight, and perhaps anything football-related internally, he hasn’t lost his voice. He has been a major part of the Texas program for the past decade.
Matthew McConaughey has served several roles at University of Texas
In 2019, McConaughey was officially appointed as a professor at the University of Texas. Before that, he had served as a visiting instructor there since 2015, teaching students radio, TV, and field. After receiving the new title, he taught the ‘Script to Screen’ film course, which McConaughey helped develop.
It’s quite the resume for Professor McConaughey. It also shows that his love, dedication for the Longhorns grows deep. It’s also worth mentioning that he is an alumnus of the program, and quite possibly, the most famous person to don the Longhorns colors.
Beyond college football, and in the big league, McConaughey is a big-time Commanders fan. His loyalty didn’t start because of Jayden Daniels, though. The actor has been a staunch supporter of the team since he was four years old, when the Commanders were the Redskin, or ‘Skins’ as he preferred calling them. His love for this franchise started with Hall of Fame linebacker Chris Hanburger.
McConaughey revealed on ‘The Eli Manning Show’ that he was always left in awe when Hanburger would bear-hug his opponents tightly, but wouldn’t hurl him to the ground. The linebacker simply didn’t wish to fall, even if it meant the opponents gained a few extra yards.
That was something unique McConaughey saw in the linebacker. The linebacker’s name, Hanburger, which sounded like ‘hamburger,’ was also music to his ears. And that was all McConaughey needed to become a Commanders fan.
