Clay Matthews III

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Matthews was born in the Northridge section of Los Angeles, the son of Leslie and Clay Matthews Jr. He attended Agoura High School in Agoura Hills, California, where he played for the Chargers. He was a walk-on at the University of Southern California under head coach Pete Carroll. At USC, he was a standout special teams player, winning three consecutive Special Teams Player of the Year awards from 2006 to 2008. He also played reserve outside linebacker before moving into a starting role his senior season. He was part of three Pac-10 Championship teams. Matthews was selected by the Green Bay Packers in the first round of the 2009 NFL draft (26th overall) after the team traded up. As a rookie, he recorded 10 sacks. In 2010, he had 13.5 sacks and helped the Packers win Super Bowl XLV. He recorded at least six sacks in the first nine seasons he played. He played both inside and outside linebacker during the 2014 and 2015 seasons. He is the brother of former NFL linebacker Casey Matthews, the son of former NFL linebacker Clay Matthews Jr., and the nephew of Pro Football Hall of Fame offensive lineman Bruce Matthews.

In Their Own Story

Lambeau Field vibrated with anticipation as Clay Matthews III crouched at the line, eyes locked on the offensive tackle. The snap came, and he didn't rush; he attacked. Utilizing a lightning-fast first step, Matthews slipped past the blocker's reach, shedding contact with precise hand technique before collapsing the pocket from the blind side. As the quarterback hit the turf, Matthews erupted in his signature celebration, arms wide against the roar of the crowd. In that moment, he embodied the defensive identity of the franchise: relentless, technical, and impossible to ignore.

Reader's Guide

Matthews was a first-round pick in 2009. He recorded 10 sacks as a rookie and 13.5 sacks in 2010. He was a six-time Pro Bowl selection and two-time All-Pro. He is the Packers' all-time sack leader with 83.5. He was inducted into the Packers Hall of Fame in 2024.

Did You Know?

• Matthews won three consecutive Special Teams Player of the Year awards at USC from 2006 to 2008.
• He scored his first career touchdown on a fumble return against the Minnesota Vikings in 2009.
• He was the first Packers rookie to earn a Pro Bowl selection since James Lofton in 1978.
• Kevin Greene said Matthews had a set of skills he had not seen in an outside linebacker.