105. Clay Matthews Jr.

This page generously sponsored by: Nobody yet! Sponsor it on Patreon to be the first name on this list!

Published in Football
Read 6602 times
Rate this item
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
(8 votes)

It is hard not to consider Clay Matthews Jr. as part of football royalty.

How can you not?

He is the son of former San Francisco 49ers Clay Matthews Sr., the father of Clay Matthews III, the brother of Hall of Famer Bruce Matthews, and the uncle of Jake and Kevin Matthews. As for this specific member of the Matthews clan, we have a 19-year veteran who spent 16 of those years with the Cleveland Browns. In four of those seasons, he was named to the Pro Bowl. Matthews Jr. may never have been a First Team All-Pro, but he had the longevity and relevance that overcomes that objection. Matthews is currently third all-time in Tackles and in the top fifteen in Games Played.

Clay Matthews Jr.’s resume is a great example of whether Canton wants to recognize a long period of being very good, even though he was never quite elite.

The Bullet Points

Country of Origin: Palo Alto, California, U.S.A.
Eligible Since: Tuesday, 01 January 2002
Position: Linebacker
Games Played: 278
Notable Statistics: 248 Games Started
16 Interceptions
206 Interception Return Yards
1 Interception Return Touchdown
24 Forced Fumbles*
14 Fumble Recoveries
29 Fumble Recovery Yards
1 Fumble Recovery Touchdown
82.5 Quarterback Sacks
1,595 Combined Tackles
131 Solo Tackles**
34 Assisted Tackles**
139 Approximate Value

11 Playoff Games
11 Playoff Games Started
1 Interception
0 Interception Return Yards
2.0 Quarterback Sacks

*Forced Fumbles were unofficially calculated by Pro Football Reference from 1997 to 1998.
**Solo Tackles and Assisted Tackles were not statistics until the 1994 Season.
Played For: Atlanta Falcons, Cleveland Browns
College: USC
Drafted: 1st Round, 12th Overall in 1978
Major Accolades and Awards:
Super Bowl Champion (None)
Second Team All-Pro Selection (1) (1984)
Pro Bowl Selection (4) (1985, 1987, 1988 & 1989)
Most Solo Tackles (4) (1978, 1979, 1981 & 1984)
Most Combined Tackles (4) (1978, 1979, 1981 & 1984)
Most Forced Fumbles (1) (1983)
Other Points of Note:
Top Ten Finishes: Solo Tackles (7) (1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983 & 1984)
Top Ten Finishes: Combined Tackles (7) 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983 & 1984)
Top Ten Finishes: Forced Fumbles (4) (1983, 1984, 1985 & 1989)
Notable All Time Rankings: 9. Combined Tackles: 1,595
18. Games Started: 248
26. Games Played: 278
57. Forced Fumbles: 27
Years Nominated for the Hall of Fame: Finalist: 2021

Semi-Finalist: 2012, 2017, 2019, 2020 & 2021

Should Clay Matthews Jr. be in the Hall of Fame?

Definitely put him in! - 62.1%

Maybe, but others deserve it first. - 20.7%

Probably not, but it wouldn't be the end of the world. - 10.3%

No opinion. - 0%

No way! - 6.9%

Last modified on Sunday, 20 September 2026 16:02

Tagged under