John Clayton, one of the country’s foremost NFL reporters who worked at ESPN for over 20 years, died on Friday in Washington. He was 67.
Clayton, also known as “The Professor”, began his career in 1972 covering the Steelers for the Pittsburgh Press before moving to Seattle in the mid-‘80s to cover the Seahawks for the Tacoma News Tribune.
He started working at ESPN in 1995, where he covered football in print, TV, and radio until 2017. Clayton was known for his passion in the sports industry.
Longtime ESPN NFL reporter John Clayton dead at age 67 https://t.co/giNago48tP pic.twitter.com/lxac27uOuS
— New York Post (@nypost) March 19, 2022
Many of Clayton’s friends and colleagues took to social media to offer remembrances.
“His wife Pat and sister Amy were at his side and communicated earlier he passed peacefully after a brief illness,” tweeted Chris Mortensen, Clayton’s former colleague at ESPN. “We loved John. We are mourning his loss. Pat has asked the Seahawks to release further information.”
“Long before he became an ESPN icon, John might have been the best news-breaking team beat reporter of his generation, the type who could sit on a story for months and then break it before others had any clue what was going on,” Mike Sando said, a longtime friend of Clayton’s.
“He was that good. On a personal level, John was incredibly generous to me when I succeeded him as the Seahawks beat reporter at the Tacoma News Tribune many years ago. I owe so much to John and will miss him terribly,” he added.
People from the NFL also reminisced on the legendary reporter’s legacy; from Seahawks players to NFL coaches.
“I am heartbroken,” said NFL analyst and former NFL quarterback Sean Salisbury. “John was family to me. We have been friends since 1986. He has been a weekly guest on my radio show for years. We have remained close since our Television days. We talked regularly.
“The Seahawks are heartbroken to learn of the passing of John Clayton,” the team said in a statement. “We send our deepest condolences to Pat and the Clayton family.”
“For five decades, he covered the league with endless energy and professionalism,” said NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. “He earned my tremendous respect and admiration as a journalist but more importantly as a wonderful person, particularly as it relates to the love, care, and devotion to his wife Pat.”
Clayton died after a brief illness, said his family.
