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Clay Matthews Sr. passes away at 88

A family patriarch. A Korean War vet. A man that began a tradition of football within his family that has now spanned generations.

Former San Francisco 49ers offensive lineman Clay Matthews Sr. passed away Thursday night at the age of 88. The cause of death is not yet known, but Matthews was said to be battling a long illness.

A standout in college at George Tech, Mathews was selected by the 49ers in the 25th round of the 1949 draft. He would go on to play the 1950 season before his career took a back seat as he served paratrooper for the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division during the Korean War.

Matthews would return to the states and play three more seasons in the NFL before calling it quits.

He is the father of Clay Matthews Jr. who played 19 seasons in the NFL, earning four trips to the Pro Bowl and three All Pro selections. His grandson, Clay Matthews III, is currently a Pro Bowl linebacker for the Green Bay Packers. Jake Matthews of the Atlanta Falcons and former Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Casey Matthews also lay claim to being Clay’s grandsons.

The eldest Matthews was a patriarch of a football family that has spanned nearly 70 years. Our condolences go out to the entire family during this most difficult of times.

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