Carrying the mantle of one of pro football's most storied bloodlines, Clay Matthews III arrived in Green Bay as the 26th overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft from USC. The Packers traded back into the first round to select the relentless pass rusher, and he instantly became a focal point of Dom Capers' 3-4 defense. With his signature long blond hair flowing from his helmet, Matthews blew past offensive tackles as a rookie, piling up 10.0 sacks and earning the first of his six Pro Bowl selections.

Matthews reached the peak of his dominant edge-rushing career during the remarkable 2010 season. He achieved a career-high 13.5 sacks, earned First-Team AP All-Pro recognition, finished as the runner-up for AP Defensive Player of the Year, and received the PFWA NFL Defensive Player of the Year award. His outstanding postseason performance that year was crucial to Green Bay's journey to Super Bowl XLV. In that Super Bowl against Pittsburgh, Matthews made a decisive impact early in the fourth quarter by delivering a powerful hit on running back Rashard Mendenhall, causing a vital fumble that helped secure the championship.

His versatility and team-first mindset were underscored midway through his tenure, when injuries hit Green Bay's defense. In 2014, head coach Mike McCarthy moved Matthews from his natural outside spot to inside linebacker to shore up the middle of the field—a tactical move that saved the Packers' defense and propelled them to the NFC Championship game. Whether lining up off the edge or dropping into the box, Matthews was a game-disrupter, breaking the Packers' all-time official sack record (83.5) before concluding his career with a final season with his hometown Los Angeles Rams in 2019. His decade-long impact in Wisconsin earned him induction into the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame in 2024.

Over his career, Matthews amassed 83.5 sacks, 482 tackles (356 solo), 121 tackles for loss, 189 quarterback hits, 15 forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries, and six interceptions.