LEGENDARY sports analyst John Clayton has always held a special place in the hearts of NFL fans.
The football world was rocked by his shock death on March 18, 2022, after he passed away at the age of 67.
Who was John Clayton?
John Clayton was born on May 11, 1954, in Braddock, Pennsylvania.
John, nicknamed The Professor, was a veteran NFL analyst and sportscaster, cherished by fans across the globe.
He began covering sports during high school, before joining the Daily Press to report intensely on the Pittsburgh Steelers.
John moved across the country for a job at The News Tribune in Tacoma, Washington, to then cover the Seattle Seahawks in 1986.
He began appearing in NFL segments on Nanci Donnellan’s radio show, The Fabulous Sports Babe.
When her show was picked up for national syndication, John came along with it as an NFL correspondent.
It was this 20-year gig as an ESPN analyst, where he dissected the details of games, that shot him to superstardom after he joined the team in 1995.
The journalist was also a sideline reporter for the Seahawks radio network for five seasons.
He later hosted a radio show with former NFL quarterback Sean Salisbury.
During his stellar career as an NFL analyst, John received the Bill Nunn Memorial Award in 2007 for his commitment to writing and reporting on football.
He was a frequent contributor to 104.3 The Fan in Denver and a weekly guest to The Mightier 1090AM in San Diego and was known for calling into sports radio programs nationwide.
He was famous for appearing in a This Is SportsCenter commercial.
What was his cause of death?
On Friday, March 18, 2022, John Clayton passed away after a short illness, his family stated.
However, details of his exact cause of death have not yet been revealed.
The veteran NFL reporter died at the age of 67.
What did people say about his death?
ESPN sports reporter Jeff Darlington took to Twitter to mourn John’s death.
He wrote: “When I first met John Clayton, I was so nervous to meet a legend. After all, he helped carve the path for guys like me — sportswriters who aspired to work at ESPN. I never imagined he would become a great friend. I’m so sad. But so very fortunate to have known such a kind soul.”
Sports Illustrated’s Andrew Brandt expressed his sadness after he heard news of John Clayton’s passing.
He tweeted: “When I joined ESPN he shepherded me through all the shows, made sure I knew my way around. Liked and respected not only by all in media but by all NFL team coaches and executives. Humble, selfless, gem of a guy. What a loss.”
The Seattle Seahawks expressed their remorse on their Twitter page saying: “The Seahawks are heartbroken to learn of the passing of John Clayton after a battle with a brief illness at the age of 67. Rest In Peace, The Professor.”
Was John Clayton married?
John met his beloved wife Patricia while they were both working for The News Tribune in Tacoma.
They remained together until his tragic death at the age of 67.
The couple also share a son, Gerald Clayton, but there is little information available about him.
Patricia also worked at the election headquarters in Renton, Washington, for a number of years.
