Position: Offensive tackle Name Clay Sr. High school: Charleston (SC) | Weight: 219 lb (99 kg) Height: 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | |
 | ||
Date of birth: (1928-08-01) August 1, 1928 (age 87) Place of birth: | ||
SCFHOF Class of 2018: Clay Matthews, Sr. (Full Video)
William Clay Matthews Sr. (born August 1, 1928) is a former American football offensive tackle and patriarch of a family of professional players. Matthews played for four seasons with the San Francisco 49ers of the NFL, the first in 1950. His career was interrupted by the Korean War, and Matthews became a paratrooper for the Army's 82nd Airborne Division. In 1953, he returned to the 49ers for three more seasons. He played college football at Georgia Tech and was selected in the 25th round of the 1949 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Rams, but never played for them.
His father, Matty Matthews, coached boxing, baseball, and track at The Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina.
He is the father of Pro Bowler Clay Matthews Jr. and Pro Football Hall of Famer Bruce Matthews, as well as the grandfather of Green Bay Packers linebacker Clay Matthews III, Kevin Matthews (played center with the Carolina Panthers), Jake Matthews (currently plays tackle on the Atlanta Falcons) and linebacker Casey Matthews of the Minnesota Vikings.
He resides with his wife in Charleston, South Carolina.
The Matthews football dynasty family tree: