Of Course Matthew McConaughey is at the Olympics

When you think Rio Olympic Games, do you automatically think Matthew McConaughey? Probably not.

While the 46-year-old Texas actor’s laid-back exterior may not match up with the international athletes’ intense ambition, both sides internally share an invaluable trait — competitive grit.

He’s never been someone to remain on the sidelines.

McConaughey and his Brazilian wife Camila Alves, who is doing lifestyle correspondent work for E! during the Games, jetted into Rio on Sunday with their three kids — Levi, 8; Vida, 6; and Livingston, 3.

The “True Detective” standout has been spotted solo in the Olympic Aquatics Stadium enthusiastically cheering for Team USA.

He also witnessed a USA Women’s Rugby victory, as well as Conor Dwyer and Kathleen Baker’s 200-meter freestyle bronze and 100-meter freestyle silver medal wins respectively. He was spotted jumping out of his seat to cheer American athletes and stood with his hand over his heart for the playing of the national anthem.

After all, he’s never been someone to remain on the sidelines.

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McConaughey not only grew up around sports, but he’s also starred in several sports films, including  “Two for the Money” (2005), “We Are Marshall” (2006), and “Angels in the Outfield” (1994). He also donned the part of a Texas scout on Danny McBride’s cult-followed baseball TV series, “Eastbound & Down.”

Hence, the breadth and depth of each of these roles came from an innate place.

Off-screen, one of the actor’s personal zeniths involved him channeling his “We Are Marshall’s” Coach Lengyel character to the University of Texas football squad in September 2014 — a team he’s been a loyal follower of since his days there in 1993.

In a practice field soliloquy reminiscent of a Vince Lombardi speech, McConaughey, attempting to aid the team in rebounding from its 20-17 loss to University of North Carolina, passionately pressed each individual to find his  purpose.

“Last night I was thinking what I do and I was thinking about what you all do and I was asking myself this question all the time: Why do I do what I do? Why am I an actor? And I’m going to ask ya’ll: Why do you play football?”

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Through further examination of his bloodline, it becomes extremely apparent that, in terms of his competitive nature, McConaughey is a chip off the old block.

McConaughey’s father, James Donald McConaughey, was a defensive end drafted by the Green Bay Packers in 1953. Although Dad was only in the NFL for one year — and didn’t participate in a single regular season game — he did grace the college gridiron for the Kentucky Wildcats (1949) under well-known coach Bear Bryant. The elder McConaughey also played for the Houston Cougars.

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McConaughey’s father, who later ran a successful oil pipe supply business, passed away in 1992.

In 2014, while on the cusp of nabbing a Best Actor Award for “Dallas Buyer’s Club,” McConaughey spoke candidly to TV personality Piers Morgan about the significance of his father’s strength and presence.

“Anybody who loses a family member — if you lose a father, that’s the main crutch in a man’s life. And it’s there for a reason, because you know if it ever comes down to it, you’ve got your own father to lean up against.”

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The Academy Award winner’s father wasn’t the only other McConaughey to experience massive success in a painstakingly competitive environment. Matthew’s brother, Mike McConaughey, not only paralleled their father’s oil career, but also became a self-made millionaire. The 62-year-old — known as “Rooster” — made his first million at age 30.

He’s currently a host on the CNBC reality show, “West Texas Investors Club.” The “Shark Tank”-like program will kick off its sophomore season in October. It features the DGM Supply tycoon — alongside business partner Wayne “Butch” Gilliam — taking on investment pitches in return for their seed capital.