Clay Matthews, Former NFL Linebacker

Alrighty, rock and roll it is the Zach Yelb show on the Infinity Sports Network coast to coast.

Let's go out to the guest line right now. Welcome in a USC legend, a Green Bay Packers legend, and of course, a six-time Pro Bowler, a Super Bowl champion, Clay Matthews here with us on behalf of Proud Royal. Clay, I appreciate the time. Thanks for it. How are you? I'm doing well. Thanks for having me.

Well, thanks so much for coming on. So I actually want to start you off with the family question. We know your dad has been waiting a long time to get into the Hall of Fame. If this is the year, and I know it's tough to even think if that's going to actually happen with how long the weight's going to be, what would that moment just mean for your family?

Well, it would mean a great deal. You know, my dad has a unique perspective in that he's constantly saying that he's at peace with his career, but I think anybody would be lying if they say they don't want to be recognized for what they were able to accomplish, especially when you're talking about the pinnacle, the ultimate achievement at an individual level of making the Hall of Fame. And I know he's now after that 25 years from since he retired, he moves into this, uh, this other category.

I'm blanking on it right now. Yeah. Yeah. And I'm hopeful that it happens sooner rather than later. I know his last year was disappointing in that 25th vote. From our insiders there, I guess he finished either sixth or seventh of those top five. So just to know how close he was to be immortalized for lack of a better term and appreciate it for what he was able to do during his 19 year career was disappointing. But he still got a chance in that senior committee. He deserves it. And I'm speaking, having gone through my own NFL 11 year career, understanding what he was able to do at the level in which he was able to do it and continually doing it.

So I think he'll get in hopefully sooner rather than later. You know, I remember talking to Jerry Kramer for all those years and he would always say to me, you know, the commissioner thinks I'm in all these legendary defensive linemen that I did go up against. I thought I was in even the great John Hannah thought he was in.

And thankfully, one day he did get a call a few years ago. When we look at your career, it's kind of wild. You've been out of the game for a while and that's right around the corner. Have you thought about potentially being a Hall of Famer one day?

Yeah. I mean, fortunately, like I just mentioned with my father, I was fortunate to grow up in a football family and understand the asks of this game. That's why I think I had so much success, especially early in my career coming in as a rookie, but being able to sustain that. And so now that I'm several years removed, you think about that. And at least with the individual and team accolades that we and I were able to to have and maintain, absolutely, I feel like I deserve to be in that discussion.

So we'll see moving forward what that means. But yeah, I mean, getting back to the dad talk, let's get let's get Clay senior in there first. And then then we can work then we can get the political machine going on me. No one once the one Matthews domino fall, maybe the other one will follow. We got Uncle Bruce in there.

Now we need my dad. And, you know, we'll just we'll start working down the list with your football family. And it's one of the great football families. Like you look at your journey, you were a walk on at USC, then a first round draft pick, eventually Super Bowl champion, such a ferocious defensive player, six time Pro Bowler. Did you always think even when you were at USC? And you know, you weren't established that it wasn't a matter of just if you're going to become a great football player? It was when with the with the family background?

I wish I could say yes. And I knew all along. But that wasn't the case. In fact, I've got a funny story. I don't know if I've mentioned it before to anybody. But I told my younger brother, Casey, I told him I think it was after my redshirt junior year, I think I was, I got a little bit of playing time Brian Cushing, who was playing in front of me, he had hurt his ankle that year. So I got to go in a couple games. And I hope that I could be either a late draft pick, or a free agent and get just enough money to buy a used car and fix it up.

And that's what I told him. I thought that was my dreams and aspiration. Fortunately, I hung on for my fifth and final year at SC. And ultimately, I got the nod, you know, to be a starter and made my impact. And then Ted Thompson, who has since passed with the Packers, he decided that I was worthy enough. And I'd like to think the rest was history.

So to answer your question, I didn't have big plans, I just kind of stayed the course kept my nose down and worked hard. And I just, you know, all of a sudden, it started coming together that the, you know, the road in which I took as far as being a walk on and being doubted, provided that chip I know it's cliche, but you know that that motivation to achieve new heights. Clay Matthews here with us on behalf of Crown Royal, we'll talk about the great work that you're doing with them in just a second. I'm based out in New York City, we're on around the country, the jets of the big story, the three and seven, obviously has not gone the way that Aaron envisioned this this season. He turns 41 in a few weeks. Do you feel like this is it for Rogers? Is this the end of the road? Or will he be back next year?

Oh, no, I don't know. I can't speak for him. We do more talking in the offseason. I don't want to bother him during the season. But it has been frustrating to watch, you know, as a as a Aaron fan, and as a close friend of his, obviously, I want nothing but the best for him. And that that involves success with the Jets. And on top of that, the Jets, you know, after being on hard knocks and seeing some of the personalities and the athletes that they have, I mean, they, it feels like they have the roster to be great. And unfortunately, you know, they're one of the teams along with the Packers that I, you know, instead of watching the red zone, I'll, I'll watch them, you know, and unfortunately, it's just not clicking.

So I was excited when devotee came out there. And obviously, you know, you could use the excuse, well, he's only been there for, you know, a couple weeks, and for them to emulate the success and the chemistry they had back in Green Bay, I mean, it's been years. So but it just doesn't seem like they're clicking. And then I know, obviously, you being in New York, I'm sure there's, there's if you dive deeper, what does that mean organizationally, from the coaching being fought from the coach being fired to kind of the future, especially with what you said, Aaron as your quarterback? I know it probably seems bleak out there. But I'm hopeful that they can get rolling because I mean, I remember watching week one when they played San Francisco, that first drive they had down the field, I said, Wow, they look good.

So I know they have it. But at this point, halfway through the season, are you I mean, you are what you put on tape, or are we building the chemistry? So I don't know if you're, you know, silver lining, or if it's doomsday out there in New York. Here's the thing that I just wonder, right, and you have the player perspective of it. If you guys could play until you're 100, you would do so we know that's not realistic. When you're having an underwhelming season, a bad season, like how much does that pull on you when you've had such a great career where man, I just don't want to go out this way. And maybe you get a little greedy and think you could find that fountain of youth one more time.

Yeah, I hear you. Um, I definitely think I think players are probably split on that because you absolutely the the warrior in us thinks that we can play until we're 100. But I know for me, speaking on experience in year 10, we switch defensive coordinators. I had a my career, the lowest number of sacks in my career in that last year, and the Packers opted not to renew my or not to give me a new contract. And I knew I could still play I knew I had it in me.

I'm like, you got to believe me this, the system doesn't, you know, quite fit. And so I went off to LA for a year, eight sacks and 13 games, I knew I could still play and I felt like I could still play after that. But to your point about us playing to war 100.

I looked around and I had three young kids and we had just moved, we had just built a home and I said, Alright, I think I'm good, I'm gonna step away. So I feel like there is that balance of being a competitor, verse truly, you know, looking at yourself and seeing where you're at and the best athletes, the best people can look at their shortcomings and be real with themselves. When we get to the Packers, who's running a few stations in the great state of Wisconsin, I know it was disappointing two weeks ago up against the lines coming off a bye week after a tough loss. What do you think this team can accomplish like last year impressed a lot of people Jordan love on the map before proving that he could coach without Aaron Rodgers? Are they ready to take that next step? Or do you still think they're another year away?

Well, I think they have the ability to I don't know if they will. They've eked out a number. Well, I wouldn't say a number but I've watched a few games where they've been able to win tight games. I think they've had other games where it's been in hand and defense has created a number of turnovers.

Love has looked great. So but when you're playing in that NFC North where you know, Minnesota has looked great. I know they dropped a few recently and then obviously the Lions are the Lions right now. I think they're just gonna have the Packers that is are gonna have to fly under the radar, hopefully, if the Lions keep rolling, get one of those wildcard spots. And if it's anything like our 2010 season, which we won the Super Bowl, it's all about who gets hot. And you saw that from the Packers last year when they went down to Dallas and just rolled through them in the playoffs, and then went out to San Francisco.

And I, I obviously know how that game ended. But I want to say they either had a lead or they were rolling and there was a few I think they missed one or two interceptions. There were a few opportunities missed to kind of put that game away.

And it was it was closer than I'm sure most would give would have given them. So I think it's all about who the hottest team is. And hopefully the Packers just stay the course. Like you had mentioned, the floor is doing a heck of a job coaching, especially when love is out. He's been playing well, the team looks good.

So we'll see what that means. You know, once the playoffs roll around, and the Bears are the bears, they fired their offensive coordinator today and Shane Waldron. There's a report from Sylvie out in Chicago that there's some veteran players that want them to actually bench Caleb Williams. Are the bears just going to mess Caleb Williams up like they always do with quarterbacks? I hope not.

I hope not. Because as a you know, as you have mentioned as a USC as a former Trojan to watch Caleb at USC was impressive. Even his last year there. I think they lost a number of games, but he was still throwing for four or 500 yards.

He was fun to watch, kept his eyes down field, you know, found the receiver was uncovered. And now it's just, yeah, just it doesn't look good down there. I think all the the hope for lack of a better term that we thought especially with two first round picks, a new franchise quarterback hasn't really resonated. So it's hard for me to say not being in that locker room as well. You know, is that coaching?

Are we gonna make some changes? You know, we get back to, you know, these quarterbacks, the love the Rogers when you sit for a few years and you know, because this game comes at you fast. It's hard, especially as a quarterback to just transition in and have immediate results. So I don't know, I don't know if it's in the best interest to bench him. I think that could depends on it depends on the person he is, you know, if that could hurt his feelings, so to speak, or if he comes back ready, you know, as what you see what's happening in Indianapolis, if you know, if they come back, and they're ready to kind of take a step back, look in the mirror, look at who's in front of them, a veteran, perhaps and, and make those changes. So it's just, it's not looking good for the bears. That's like death taxes and the bears. Yeah.

Right. Like, I hate to say, I'm trying to be nice as a Packers, former Packers player to try to be nice here. But you have in the alumni perspective, do you kind of still believe in Lincoln Riley? Or is it like, man, it's just not going the way that we thought this was gonna go?

Yeah, I mean, I still have faith in him, I will say, I, well, I don't want to be too critical here. Um, I'd love to see a little bit more kind of, I'm gonna say grit, for lack of a better term, I'd love to see, you know, you see a lot of a lot of defensive minded coaches, you know, the mentality of the team, and obviously, offensively, I mean, over the past however many years, and for as long as Lincoln has been coaching has been able to what three, four Heisman Trophy winner. So it shows that he's capable of putting together an offense. But I know they're lacking, I watching them at the tackle position, offensive tackle.

So the quarterback is just getting rattled back there. I've got I've got I mean, listen, they've been they've been close. I don't know if we're a few, a few players away or what, because I see historically has always had, you know, those those players who can turn the tide who can, you know, win these big games. It's just, yeah, I mean, a lot of these games have come I think they're all one possession games. I mean, had Penn State on the ropes out there in Michigan, Minnesota, Maryland, it's just, you know, one or two, or it's almost forgivable. But at this point, I think with the quarterback changes, you see, we're kind of searching for answers.

How about the work that you're doing today? Clay Matthews of Crown Royal? Yeah, so Crown Royal is the official whiskey sponsor of the NFL. And I'm excited to be on their NFL legend roster this year. And that means the the Crown Royal rig, which is a larger than life 18 wheeler, it's got two enormous white oak whiskey barrels on the back that iconic Crown Royal purple paint, they're driving through 10 different NFL cities tailgating on game days. And the Crown Royal rig and myself are going to be at Lambeau Field on Thanksgiving. So I'm encouraging all fans to come on now come mingle with us have some drinks, there's gonna be some giveaways. But I think what's even cooler than that is how Crown Royal is involved in giving back to the military through their purple bag project in which they're putting morale boosting items in them, giving them to packages from home to give out to our active military or overseas or deploy. So I think it's just a not only we're gonna have a good time there on game day, but we're doing a good deed as well. And even more so than that, I'm donating one of my game use jerseys that one lucky fan has a chance to enter to win. It's on the network app.

So you can go there to kind of put your name in the hat, so to speak, and for all other information that you may need directing everybody to the Crown Royal Instagram app. So it'll be a good time. I'm really looking forward to getting back to Lambeau, having some fun and taking care of the military.

I know you got to run last thing I'll ask you your your old football coach Mike McCarthy with the cowboys. It seems like unfortunately, this is going to be his final year there. Last year, the contract you got Micah Parsons now saying a bunch of things on his podcast about him. It just like I actually feel bad for Mike, you know, who's a good football coach. Yeah. And I think, you know, even going into this last year, I mean, what, three years, one seasons, well, when seasons and to not have that security, I know they do things down different down in Dallas.

And, you know, unfortunately, they just haven't had the success with that going on what season ending, having season ending surgery. And you're right, your star defensive player just saying things that like, you know, you try and keep that in house, even if that's how you feel. So it doesn't look good, you know, from the outside looking in.

And Mike's always been fantastic to me. And I have the utmost respect for him and what he's able to do. So, yeah, to that point, you almost I hate to feel bad for anybody. But you just look at the situation in itself. And it's just it looks bleak. It doesn't look good. And I don't know what that I don't know what that means moving forward for the organization or for Mike. But with all the success he had to I mean, who knows where they go from this point.

But to go out on that, you just you hate to see it. He's Clay Matthews on behalf of Crown Royal Clay. Once again, good luck to your dad. Appreciate you doing this. I appreciate it. Thanks so much.