This weekend, the Pro Football Hall of Fame welcomed the Class of 2024. Earlier this year, former Green Bay Packers linebacker Clay Matthews was inducted into the Packers Hall of Fame. The former USC star spent 10 seasons with the Pack and was a dominant force on the Green Bay defense. But while Matthews was a clear-cut Packers Hall of Famer, was his NFL career good enough to get him into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio?

Should Packers LB Clay Matthews Make the Pro Football Hall of Fame: A Great Career

The Packers selected Matthews with the 26th overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft. Matthews comes from a football family. His father and grandfather, both also named Clay Matthews, played in the NFL. His father was a finalist for induction into Canton on a few occasions but has yet to be voted into the hall. Matthews’ uncle Bruce Matthews played offensive line with the Houston and Tennessee Oilers for 18 seasons and is in the Hall of Fame.

Matthews made an immediate impact as a rookie. He recorded 10 sacks in his first season in the NFL while earning Pro Bowl honors. He finished third in the voting for Defensive Rookie of the Year.

By his second season, Matthews recorded a career-high 13.5 sacks and was named All Pro. He finished second in the voting for the AP Defensive Player of the Year and recorded 18 tackles for loss. He helped the Packers win Super Bowl XLV over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Fans took to Matthews energy, enthusiasm and his signature long hair. He quickly became one of the most popular players on the Packers team.

By the time his career was over, Matthews was the Packers all-time sack leader with 83.5. He earned Pro Bowl honors six times in his 10 seasons in Green Bay and was All Pro once. He added 11 sacks in 15 playoff games.

Going Beyond the Statistics

While Matthews always stood out as a star player, he was also a team player. In 2014, the Packers defense was struggling against the run and dealing with injuries. Head coach Mike McCarthy and defensive coordinator Dom Capers asked Matthews to move inside and play inside linebacker.

Matthews made the switch and won Pro Bowl honors in both 2014 and 2015 playing in the middle. There is no doubt that moving inside cost Matthews some sacks and personal statistics. But he did what was good for the team which qualified for the playoffs both seasons “The Claymaker” played inside.

Matthews was confident in his ability to make the switch and to be a dominant player. “I always felt like I could do it all and I say that with humility,” Matthews said. “I felt like I could play the run, I could rush the passer, I could guard tight ends/slot receivers. Whatever it is, I took a lot of pride in being able to do it all and not just being a one-trick pony.”

Teammate Charles Woodson, who is in the Hall of Fame, was impressed by Matthews’ ability to dominate after making the position change. “Let him be the guy that people have to worry about where he’s going to be at, rather than just being on one side,” Woodson said in 2015. “I could play the nickel or just a corner or whatever, but let that guy move around because he’s a beast, man. I think they saw it this year moving him inside and just allowing him to have really free rein over the field.”

Should Packers LB Clay Matthews Make the Pro Football Hall of Fame: Clutch and Memorable Moments

To make the Hall of Fame, a player needs to be dominant and have some memorable and clutch moments. Matthews produced both. Playing on a Super Bowl winning team and a team that won consistently during his tenure in Green Bay helped as well.

In addition to his six Pro Bowl berths, Matthews made a key play in Super Bowl XLV. The Packers were clinging to a 21-17 lead as the fourth quarter began. The Pack had lost Woodson to injury and their lead was slipping away. Pittsburgh had the ball at the Green Bay 33 facing a 2nd-and-2.

Before the play, assistant coach Kevin Greene told Matthews, “It is time,” to make a big play. Matthews responded, forcing a fumble by Rashard Mendenhall which the Packers recovered. The Pack responded with an 8-play drive that ended in a touchdown pass from Aaron Rodgers to Greg Jennings and led 28-17. They held on to win 31-25.

Matthews also scored three touchdowns, two on interception returns and one on a fumble return. Whenever big plays were needed, Matthews was the one making them for the Green Bay defense.

Pro Football Hall of Fame?

The ultimate two questions for determining if a player belongs in the Pro Football Hall of Fame are, were they dominant and could you write the history of the game during that players’ era without mentioning him.

Matthews was certainly dominant, and his big plays and elite performances made him a part of any discussion of the 2010s. There is no doubt he has a strong case for induction into Canton and the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

 

 

 

Follow Gil Martin on Twitter @GilPackers

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