Grant Mattos

Grant Logan Mattos is a former NFL player and a contestant in Survivor: Redemption Island.

Profile
Name (Age): Grant Mattos (29) Tribe: Ometepe, Murlonio Current Residence: West Hollywood, Calif. Occupation: Yoga Instructor Personal Claim to Fame: Playing in the NFL Inspiration in Life: My wife. With her in my life, I can do anything. Hobbies: Largemouth bass fishing, surfing and writing. Pet Peeves: When someone uses the word "like" every other second. 3 Words to Describe You: Outgoing, positive and friendly. Reason for being on SURVIVOR: It's a huge mental and physical challenge. I want to get to know my true self better. Why you think you'll "survive" SURVIVOR: I am physically and mentally strong and consider myself to be a good leader. Reason why you think you will be the sole SURVIVOR: I have been through a lot and can push myself mentally and physically.

Survivor: Redemption Island
From early on, with Grant's NFL background, he seemed to be the strongest member of the Ometepe tribe. Grant was included in Rob Mariano's alliance of 6 that was formed within the first few days and Grant was happy with the alliance, especially since he thought that he and Rob were tight as they were the two main guys in the alliance and in fact the only guys in the alliance after Matt Elrod's vote off on day 8. Grant was essential in a few of Ometepe's victories, including one in where Zapatera rival Mike Chiesl ripped his shirt. With Grant's contributions to camp life and the challenges, Ometepe would win the last 3 immunity challenges before the merge.

Upon the merge and Matt's return from Redemption Island, Grant tried to rebuild his friendship with Matt, explaining why he was voted off. This likely may have been a part of Matt's thinking process in deciding whether to side with Ometepe or Zapatera in the new merged tribe of Murlonio. The former members of Zapatera came to a consensus that Grant would be their first target for being strong and for appearing to be Rob's main ally, but thanks to Ometepe's unity and Matt's gullibleness, Grant would just barely be safe and Matt would be voted off 6-5-1.

Grant would then win the immunity challenge from The Buddy System and the first immunity challenge on A Mystery Package. Upon Grant winning the latter, Grant shared his reward of cake with Andrea Boehlke as a strategic move so Andrea wouldn't want to vote Grant off later on. Despite Rob's orders to not interact with the former Zapatera members, Grant accepted the food that Julie Wolfe offered him, saying "I'm my own man, I make my own desicions". That was the closest sign to Grant flipping and it wasn't nearly close enough, so Grant stayed loyal and voted with Ometepe to send Mike Chiesl, David Murphy, Julie Wolfe, Ralph Kiser, and Steve Wright to Redemption Island.

The real battle began after Steve's vote off, with the Ometepe alliance of 6 forced to turn on each other. Grant didn't seem like a target at first and Andrea was voted off 5-1 on day 32. But Grant's life in the game started to become at stake in Too Close For Comfort, where Rob felt that if Ashley Underwood won the next immunity challenge, Grant would have to be voted off. And unfortunately that became more of a reality after Ashley won immunity, but Rob contemplated whether it may be a better idea to vote off Natalie Tenerelli in a jury vote situation. Grant thought that the plan was for him, Rob, and Phillip Sheppard to vote off Natalie to seperate the dueo fo Ashley and Natalie and was confident in Rob and Phillip's faithfulness, but in the end Grant would be voted off 4-1. After his torch was snuffed, Grant ominously said "I'll be back shortly". After tribal council, Rob jokingly said that he was worried because now he's the big challenge threat, but he didn't really feel that way since he had a strong final 3 alliance.

Grant was very upset in being voted off, thinking that Rob was going to take him to the final 3. Grant was the first to lose in the duel on day 36, so he became the 5th member of the jury and he finished the game in 8th place. In the final tribal council, Grant would get over Rob voting him off and would vote for Rob to win since he felt that Rob played the best game.

Post-Survivor

 * Follow Mattos' duration on Survivor: Redemption Island, he married Canadian actress Christina Cox.

Trivia

 * Grant is one of the two former NFL players on Survivor: Redemption Island; the other being Steve Wright.
 * He and Steve were the 3rd and 4th castaways formerly associated with the NFL to play on Survivor, following player Gary Hogeboom and coach Jimmy Johnson.
 * Grant is the lowest ranking male Ometepe member, as Matt came in 7th, Phillip was runner up, and Rob became the Sole Survivor.
 * Grant was the first Ometepe member to be eliminated since Kristina, who was eliminated nine episodes earlier.
 * Grant was the first contestant to be voted out on Day 35.