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John Clayton, longtime NFL insider and Hall of Famer, dies at 67
By Kevin Duffey
Published:
John Clayton, longtime NFL insider and one of the most recognizable reporters, has died at 67 years old.
The news was reported first by longtime ESPN colleague Chris Mortensen on Twitter.
“John Clayton passed away today at a Seattle area hospital. His wife Pat and sister Amy were at his side and communicated earlier he passed peacefully after a brief illness.
“We loved John. We are mourning his loss. Pat has asked the Seahawks to release further information,” Mortensen wrote on Twitter.
The Seahawks released a statement on Clayton’s death shortly thereafter.
Clayton was elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s writer wing in 2007, and he was beloved by just about everyone in sports — from teams and players to fans and media members.
He started his career with the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 1972 training camp and covered the team for 23 years during his career. Clayton joined ESPN in 1995 as a reporter and radio contributor. After leaving ESPN in 2017, Clayton was a sideline reporter for the Seahawks. He also was the host of the John Clayton Weekends show in Seattle.
One memorable ESPN commercial, however, made him into a cult hero. It’s one of my favorite commercials of all-time.
John Clayton, a first-class NFL insider and our beloved longtime ESPN colleague, died today.
He also starred in the greatest This Is SportsCenter commercial of all time.
RIP, Johnpic.twitter.com/5s5H0gQZcu
— Don Van Natta Jr. (@DVNJr) March 19, 2022
Clayton is survived by his wife Patricia.
A graduate of the University of Florida and founder of Saturday Down South, Kevin is a college football enthusiast.
