CLEVELAND — Former Cleveland Brown Clay Matthews Jr. is headed to the Ring of Honor.
Matthews said it wasn't a call he was expecting to receive.
“I was honored,” Matthews said. “I mean, the Browns have a pretty good legacy of players in that group. We lived through that generation of players mostly in the 60s who were so successful, and to be included in that group is just an honor."
Matthews will be enshrined during halftime of the Browns game against the Los Angeles Rams on September 22.
His son, Clay Matthews III, is a linebacker for the Rams.
“With that platform, gosh,”Clay Matthews Jr. said. “To honor me at the platform and with that going on and having him here, I'm just honored. I'm honored by the Haslam family and the folks who think I'm worthy of doing it.”
Matthews will be the first player inducted into the Browns Ring of Honor without being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
He has been a semifinalist three times, including last year.
"To me it was a no-brainer," Browns General Manager John Dorsey said. "That guy symbolizes everything it means to be a Cleveland Brown. Respect and honor for the game of professional football. His passion for the game. I can't wait to meet him when we do this against the Los Angeles Rams. It will be special for him.
Matthews is considered one of the best linebackers in history.
He played in 278 games for the Browns and had 76.5 sacks.
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