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Former ESPN reporter, longtime NFL insider John Clayton dies
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John Clayton, one of the most recognizable faces in NFL coverage and a longtime reporter for the league, has died. He was 67.
Clayton’s longtime ESPN colleague, Chris Mortensen, first reported the news on Friday.
“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.
Because of his coverage, Clayton was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame writing wing in 2007. He was a beloved member of the media by players, coaches, fans and his colleagues.
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.
Dustin grew up in the heart of Big Ten country and has been in sports media since 2010. He has been covering Big Ten football since 2014. You can follow him on Twitter: @SchutteCFB