Former NFL Kicker Builds Hurricane-Resistant Home on Alabama’s Gulf Coast

Retired Atlanta Falcons placekicker Matt “Money Matt” Bryant and his wife, Melissa Bryant, spent 20 months building their custom hurricane-resistant home—where dolphins glide by the dock and ospreys soar across the bay.
In 2016, three years before Bryant retired after a decade with the team, the couple purchased the waterfront property for $1.78 million, according to PropertyShark records. At the time, it held only a modest guest cottage, which previous owners had floated in by barge to use as a fish camp.
“We built this house to handle anything nature could throw at it,” said Bryant, 50, who ranks among the most accurate kickers in NFL history. “We put a lot of thought into the design—there’s a view of the water from nearly every room. It feels like a vacation every day.”
Living by the water, he added, “has been shown to improve quality of life, according to research.”
The marine life offers constant entertainment, Bryant noted. “I’ve seen dolphins chase fish so close they nearly beach themselves,” he said.
Beverly Kennedy of Engel & Völkers Gulf Shores Alabama, who listed the home in May, said the residence was built for both family living and hosting guests. “Its privacy and expansive bayfront space really make it special,” she said.
Stats
Completed in 2017, the single-story home spans 8,946 square feet with seven bedrooms, eight full bathrooms, and two half baths. The 4.3-acre lot includes 190 feet of private beach and more than 3,000 square feet of outdoor living area. The guest cottage adds two more bedrooms and one full bath.
Amenities
This fully outfitted smart home includes dual offices, a movie theater with a 140-inch screen, a 1,400-gallon aquarium, and a 9-foot-deep, heated and chilled saltwater pool. Additional features include a 10-foot-square spa, an outdoor kitchen, three fireplaces, and a deep-water dock.
Constructed with steel beams and elevated 20 feet above ground, the house is engineered to withstand a Category 5 hurricane. It has impact-rated windows and underground 2,500-gallon propane tanks to fuel a generator during outages.
Neighborhood Notes
Orange Beach, located on Alabama’s Gulf Coast, is “like a beach suburb,” according to Kennedy. “It has nightlife, shopping, and restaurants—but with a more relaxed atmosphere.”
Locals often boat to nearby attractions, including an open-air amphitheater that hosts live concerts. The famous Flora-Bama beach bar, a community staple, draws a wide mix of performers—Post Malone among them, according to reports.