Clay Matthews, a former Green Bay Packers linebacker, unofficially retired from the NFL in 2019 while he was playing with the Los Angeles Rams. However, the athlete recently revealed he hopes to have an official retirement celebration with Green Bay, the team he feels most accurately represents his time in the league.
The 36-year-old played with the Packers for just under 10 seasons and in that time he made six Pro Bowls, was a runner-up in the Defensive Player of the Year vote, and helped lead his team to a Super Bowl victory in 2010. However, he relocated to Los Angeles to play one lone season with the Rams in 2019. Despite recording 8.0 sacks in 13 games, the Rams released him in the offseason.
“I had a few other offers after for the 2020 season, but we had just moved to L.A., and we had just had our third child, and it was the middle of COVID, so there were a lot of unknowns,” Matthews said, explaining his absence from the league. “Ultimately, there wasn’t a situation out there that made me want to relocate the family again. I wanted to focus on the next chapter, which is being a dad and being home a lot more.”
In a recent interview with ESPN’s Rob Demovsky, the linebacker admitted he wished to finish his career with the Packers, rather than the Rams. “I would have loved to finish my career [in Green Bay],” Matthews stated. “…Ultimately, it is what it is. I had fun in my year in L.A. It was a blast getting to go home and play with some incredible players.”
Clay Matthews discusses returning to Green Bay with his children
Matthews, who is Green Bay’s all-time franchise leader in sacks, relayed that he hopes to one day be invited back to have an official retirement celebration with the team. Especially because he wants to show his children a significant look into his past.
“My kids are getting older, so they understand what I was able to do, so I very much look forward to showing them around Lambeau, where we used to live, and all the things that were an integral part of their young lives and my young life as well,” he shared.
Matthews also acknowledged that being inducted into the Green Bay Packer’s Hall of Fame would be a dream come true. “I would definitely be very appreciative and humbled,” the NFL star said of the opportunity.
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