Is Clay Matthews Still Playing In The NFL?
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After a stellar career with the Green Bay Packers, linebacker Clay Matthews is now a free agent. Get the latest on his NFL future here.
Early Life and Career
Clay Matthews III was born in Los Angeles, California, on May 14, 1986, the son of Leslie (née O’Neal) and Clay Matthews Jr. His grandfather Clay Matthews Sr. played football for the San Francisco 49ers from 1950 to 1955. Matthews III attended Agoura High School in Agoura Hills, California, where he played linebacker and offensive lineman. He led his team to a CIF Southern Section Division 5A title and was named the division’s Defensive Player of the Year as a senior.
Matthews’ Time With The Packers
Clay Matthews III is an American football outside linebacker for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Packers out of the University of Southern California in the first round of the 2009 NFL Draft.
In his first season, Matthews was moved to inside linebacker, where he played for most of his rookie season. The following year, he shifted back to outside linebacker. Matthews has earned a Pro Bowl selection in each of his first four seasons in the league.
Matthews is the son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Clay Matthews Jr., who played 19 seasons as a linebacker in the NFL.
Matthews’ Time With The Rams
Clay Matthews III signed with the Los Angeles Rams on March 15, 2019. He agreed to a two-year, $9 million contract with $5.5 million in guarantees and a $2 million signing bonus. He was set to earn base salaries of $3.75 million in 2019 and $4.75 million in 2020. His contract also included up to $1 million in per-game roster bonuses for each season.
Matthews’ Time With The Jaguars
Clay Matthews III is an American football outside linebacker who is a free agent. He played college football at the University of Southern California (USC), and was drafted by the Green Bay Packers with the 26th overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft. Matthews was a part of the Packers’ Super Bowl XLV championship team that beat the Pittsburgh Steelers, 31–25. He has also played for the Los Angeles Rams (2018) and Jacksonville Jaguars (2019).
Matthews signed a two-year, $9 million contract with the Jaguars on March 18, 2019. He was released by the team on March 16, 2020.
Where Is Matthews Now?
Matthews is currently a free agent, but he has expressed interest in continuing his playing career. In an interview with ESPN in February 2020, Matthews said: “I still feel like I have a lot of good football left in me … I’m not done yet.”
Matthews was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the first round of the 2009 NFL Draft. He played 10 seasons with the Packers, amassing 83.5 sacks and 23 forced fumbles. In 2019, he was signed by the Los Angeles Rams, where he appeared in all 16 games and recorded eight sacks.
