A Look Back: Clay Matthews

by Bernie19Kosar on Dec 29, 2009 3:45 AM EST

A look back at one of the best Browns linebackers ever.

Awesome hair for an awesome linebacker.

Clay Matthews played college ball at University of Southern California. He was a member of the 1974 national championship team and earned All-American honors in 1977.

He was the first round draft pick, 12th overall, in '78 by first year head coach Sam Rutigliano.

Matthews appeared in 15 games that season, starting two. Not exactly earth shattering but he was just getting started.

The following season Matthews started all 16 games for the Browns at ROLB. Only a broken ankle in the strike shortened season of '82 could keep Matthews out of the Browns starting line-up.

Matthews really seemed to come into his own when the Browns hired a Detroit Lions LB coach as the Browns new defensive coordinator. That coach was Marty Schottenheimer. Marty used Matthews better than any coach before. Matthews was all over the field. He was racking up 100 plus tackles and God knows how many sacks (Sacks didn't become a NFL stat until the '82 season).

Matthews had one of the best NFL seasons ever in 1984. He had 126 tackles, 3 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery and 12 sacks. By the way just to give you an idea, James Harrison won the defensive POY last season with 103 tackles, 7 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery, and 16 sacks. (The difference in FF stands out, but remember that LT invented the strip sack move in the mid-eighties. Matthews essentially didn't have the move in his arsenal). Pretty close huh? Clay Matthews didn't even make the Pro Bowl in 1984.

Don't feel too bad for Matthews, he went on to make the Pro Bowl in '85, '87, '88 and '89.

He finished his Cleveland Browns career (he went on to play 3 games as an Atlanta Falcon were he recorded 6.5 sacks as a 40 year old) with 62 sacks (No telling how many he missed out on during the four seasons in which sacks weren't tallied), 1,430 tackles, 24 forced fumbles, 14 INT's, 14 fumble recoveries, and two defensive TD.

He played with the Cleveland Browns for 16 seasons, only trailing Lou "the toe" Groza for the most seasons a Brown. Matthews played in 278 games which is still good for 12th all-time, but 7th among non-kickers.

Clay Matthews should be in the Hall of Fame.

Interesting notes:

The Matthews family once appeared on Family Feud, hosted by Richard Dawson. He, along with brother and longtime offensive lineman Bruce, were chosen to play in the final round. One question he was asked was "What is the ideal age for a President?" He gave 35, but a person can't be President until they turn 35. They didn't win the grand prize. Matthews owned a Pontiac dealership in Cleveland in the early 90's. Clay Matthews III is a rookie OLB for the Green Bay Packers. Casey Matthews is a LB with the University of Oregon. So keep an eye out for him chasing Pryor on New Years Day.

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Don't forget - his best years were after he was injured

and Bill Cower was his stand-in.

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by Tkopa on Dec 29, 2009 5:44 AM EST reply actions

Man he use to be the motor on D.I loved watching him chase guys down and he always was had a dirty uniform and seemed to be in or near every play

by Brownsfan4ever on Dec 29, 2009 6:34 AM EST reply actions

Clay Mathews

Thanks for the artical on Clay Mathews. As a lifetime Browns fan, Clay was by far my Favorite player. Not only does he have Hall of Fame stats, but he was the most clutch defensive player I ever seen. He had a knack of being the one making the game saving tackle or interception. I wish the Browns would have drafted Clay the third, it would have been fun to see another Mathews wreeking havoc on the field. Thanks again for bringing back the memories.

by RUSSELL S on Dec 29, 2009 7:51 AM EST reply actions

nice job again, B19K. these articles have been great so far. however, they do make me a little sad, longing for this team to be competitive once again, with tough, intelligent players like clay.

keep up the good work.

by Dawg Nuts on Dec 29, 2009 8:36 AM EST reply actions

Thanks for posting this. He was a stud, plain and simple. He busted it every down. Why he is not in the Hall is a shame.
As mentioned previously, hair out of the helmet, uniform always had mud on it, and Clay making tackle after tackle.
Great Brown, great player.

by Grockcubs on Dec 29, 2009 8:45 AM EST reply actions

Definitely my favorite D player form the 80s. It’s a crime he isn’t in the HOF.

by talonk on Dec 29, 2009 11:14 AM EST reply actions

He should definitely be in the HOF. I was coaching Pop Warner football 4 years ago, here in Southern California, and I went to a coaches clinic, and who do you think was my instructor for linebackers? Clay Matthews. Of course I was wearing a Browns T-Shirt, and when I walked up to shake his hand, he said, “I like your shirt.” It was awesome, and I couldn’t have been more proud to be instructed by the GREAT Clay Matthews!! He was great, and I will definitely cherish that memory as I do all of the other great memories he has given all Browns fans.

by cboldt12 on Dec 29, 2009 1:41 PM EST reply actions

Good stuff, B19K. Good memories.

by RelapsingDawgCatcher on Dec 29, 2009 4:23 PM EST reply actions

Awesome hair for an awesome linebacker.

…and his son is doing him proud in the hair department as well. Would LOVE to have that guy, too.

by johnnyphoenix on Dec 30, 2009 2:56 AM EST reply actions

i remember watching a game when cleveland was playing the oilers and they were marching down the field i was thinking if he(clay) didnt do something like blitz and disrupt the offence there go’s the ball game an the next play he go’s zippin past the left tackle (not sure if it was his brother) an sacked the qb for a 10+ yard loss.

oth

by oth on Jan 2, 2010 12:25 AM EST reply actions