John Clayton covered the NFL for five decades.
He was a hit for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Seattle Seahawks, he was an NFL insider for ESPN, he was an award winner, recently hosted The John Clayton Weekend show, and was the center of one of the most memorable ESPN commercials of all time.
Known as “The Professor,” Clayton was a highly respected and beloved figure in the NFL media world who died after a brief illness, the Seahawks announced. He was 67.
“He was nice to everyone and from the minute I started covering the NFL, he made me feel welcome and offered tips on who I know,” said NFL Media Judy Battista. “He was the first person to call me when it was announced that I’m coming to the NFL Network and his advice on television was classic: ‘Speak just as we speak in the press box. Hien gär the work. Loved hitting every training camp while the rest of us were on steam – he did two camps a day a lot. But mostly I think about his commitment to his wife Pat, and how he cared for her during her own health problems. The last time I spoke to him was for his podcast and we spent most of our time talking about Pat – he was happy that day because she came home from the hospital after a short stay. I’m thinking of her tonight. “
A Pennsylvania native, Clayton, who won the 2007 Dick McCann Award for making a “long and outstanding contribution to pro football through coverage,” covered the Steelers at the Pittsburgh Press and later the Seahawks for the Tacoma News Tribune. In 1995, he joined ESPN as an insider. At ESPN he rose to fame for his excellent reporting, distinctive looks and friendly personality. It led to a very memorable “This is Sportscenter” commercial, in which he was portrayed as delivering a report to ESPN and, after his conclusion, tore off his costume and emerged as a heavy metal rocker from his mother’s basement. “Hey, Mom! I’m done with my job,” he shouted.
In fact, he was a prince in the profession, whose passage saddened the NFL world on a Friday, in which his memory is laughed at every fall.
Add Comment