Packers legend Clay Matthews III helped open the 2025 NFL Draft in Green Bay alongside other greats and the NFL commissioner. On a night the United States celebrates the next generation of NFL ...

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, left, and former Green Bay Packers player Clay Matthews ride bikes on the stage before the start of the first round of the NFL Draft Thursday, April 24, 2025.

So it was somewhat startling when Thompson broke character back in April, trading up for an additional first-round draft pick and using it on USC linebacker Clay Matthews III.

Matthews, 38, enjoyed a decade of success against the Bears while a Packer from 2009 to 2018. He ended his career with a 16-3 record against Chicago, with 9 1/2 sacks against Bears quarterbacks.

Matthews followed B.J. Raji as a Packers' first-round selection (26th overall) in the 2009 Draft. The USC linebacker has spent seven years with the Packers, starting at least 11 games in every ...

NEW ORLEANS, LA - FEBRUARY 01: NFL Player Clay Matthews III attends SiriusXM's Live Broadcast from Radio Row during Bowl XLVII week on February 1, 2013 in New Orleans, Louisiana.

In the right situation, Walker could emerge as a reasonable facsimile of All-Pro Clay Matthews III, though he dramatically lacks the size and play strength Matthews brought to Green Bay.

Since 2009, the Falcons have only had three seasons with a defender who posted double-digit sacks (2010, 2012, 2016). Matthews had four such seasons himself…and retired in 2019.

By Jim Polzin, Capital Newspapers Sep 26, 2010 Sep 26, 2010Updated Sep 28, 2010 0 ...

Matthews followed B.J. Raji as a Packers' first-round selection (26th overall) in the 2009 Draft. The USC linebacker has spent seven years with the Packers, starting at least 11 games in every ...

Clay Matthews officially retired from the NFL in 2022, though he hadn’t played since the 2019 season. Still, he was in the league long enough to witness Travis Kelce’s rise firsthand.