CLEVELAND — What one seemed like an impossibility is now (finally) one step closer to becoming reality.
Legendary Browns linebacker Clay Matthews Jr. was named a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Tuesday, meaning he is still in the running to be one of up to five former players enshrined in Canton this summer. This is Matthews’ first time surviving the Modern-era Committee’s “second cut” after four previous times as a semifinalist.
Matthews spent the first 16 seasons of a 19-year career in Cleveland, and established himself as the best defender in team history. He was a second-team All-Pro in 1984 and made four out of five Pro Bowls from 1985-89, and during his tenure helped the Browns to seven NFL playoff appearances and three AFC Championship Games. He remains the franchise’s official all-time leader in total tackles (1,430), and sacks (62), although the actually numbers are likely much higher due to a lack of record keeping until the early ’80s.
The Modern-era Committee will meet one more time before Super Bowl LV to debate the 13 total finalists, and will select no more than five for induction. If Matthews isn’t chosen, he will be relegated to the Seniors Committee for further consideration, as his career ended in 1996 as a member of the Atlanta Falcons (25 years ago beginning in 2021).
The 12 other finalists are: