The Wilton community is still buzzing days after one of its own heard his name called in the 2026 NFL draft.<\/p>\n
Offensive lineman Matt Gulbin was selected in the sixth round by the Washington Commanders.<\/p>\n
“Me, my mom, and dad were in a separate room going over draft scenarios, and that’s when I got the call,” Gulbin says. “They’ve been a really big part of my journey, so it was cool to share it with them.”<\/p>\n
The 6 feet, 4 inch, 300-pound center played football at Wilton High School for all four years before a stellar college career that included stops at Wake Forest and Michigan State.<\/p>\n
Gulbin’s high school coach, E.J. Dinunzio, says the Chicago Bears and Commanders were two NFL teams that reached out to ask about Gulbin’s work ethic during the pre-draft process.<\/p>\n
“They asked me, ‘Hey, what was he like as a high school kid?’ He’s one kid where I don’t have to fib at all,” DiNunzio says. “The kid is great.”<\/p>\n
DiNunzio says Gulbin avoided the temptation of joining a prep school and instead opted to finish his high school career at Wilton.<\/p>\n
“I think it’s a great example of playing with your friends, doing your job, working hard, getting discovered, and now playing in the NFL,” DiNunzio says.<\/p>\n
Gulbin says he grew up idolizing other Connecticut players who made it to the NFL like New Canaan’s Zach Allen and Lucas Niang, and Norwalk’s D.J. Morrell.<\/p>\n
Gulbin says former NFL veteran and Greenwich native John Sullivan has been one of his mentors.<\/p>\n
“I’ve watched film with him and picked his brain on stuff,” Gulbin says. “He’s been really big for me.”<\/p>\n
Rookie mini-camp starts on May 7.
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