Longtime NFL reporter John Clayton passes away at 67

John Clayton coated the NFL for five many years.

He was on the beat for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Seattle Seahawks, he was an NFL insider for ESPN, he was an award-winner, most a short while ago hosted The John Clayton Weekends display, and was the centerpiece of a person of the most unforgettable ESPN commercials of all time.

Identified as “The Professor,” Clayton was a considerably-revered and beloved determine in the NFL media environment who handed away after a transient disease, the Seahawks declared. He was 67.

“He was kind to everyone and from the minute I started masking the NFL, he designed me come to feel welcome and offered guidelines on who to get to know,” NFL Media’s Judy Battista explained. “He was the very first person to call me when it was declared I was coming to the NFL Network and his information about carrying out Television was classic: ‘Just discuss like we chat in the press box.’ He beloved the occupation. Beloved hitting just about every schooling camp even though the rest of us were being on fumes — he did two camps per day a great deal. But mostly I am thinking about his devotion to his wife Pat, and how he cared for her throughout her own wellbeing troubles. The last time I talked to him was for his podcast and we spent most of our time speaking off air about Pat — he was satisfied that day for the reason that she was coming home from the clinic just after a short keep. I’m thinking about her tonight.”

A Pennsylvania indigenous, Clayton, who won the 2007 Monthly bill Nunn Jr. Award for earning a “lengthy and distinguished contribution to professional soccer through coverage,” protected the Steelers at The Pittsburgh Push and later on the Seahawks for the Tacoma News Tribune. In 1995, he joined ESPN as an insider. At ESPN, he drew fame for his outstanding reporting, distinct look and affable individuality. It led to a single pretty unforgettable “This is Sportscenter” industrial in which he was depicted providing a report for ESPN and, on its summary, ripping off his match and showing as a large steel rocker doing the job from his parents’ household. “Hey, mother! I am carried out with my section,” he bellowed.

In truth, he was prince in the job whose passing experienced the NFL globe grieving on Friday, and whose memory will be smiled upon each and every autumn.

“John Clayton, one particular of the to start with ‘Insiders,’ helped bring fans nearer to the video game they beloved,” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell reported in a assertion Saturday. “For 5 decades, he included the league with countless vitality and professionalism. He attained my great respect and admiration as a journalist but a lot more importantly as a excellent particular person, specially as it relates to the enjoy, care and devotion to his wife Pat. We will skip John and send our deepest condolences to Pat and his sister Amy.”