William Clay Matthews Sr. was born on August 1, 1928 and died on March 23, 2017.

He was a former American football offensive tackle and patriarch of a family of professional players.

He played for four seasons with the San Francisco 49ers of the NFL, the first in 1950.

Matthews’ career was interrupted by the Korean War, and Matthews became a paratrooper for the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division. In 1953, he returned to the 49ers for three more seasons.

Clay played college football at Georgia Tech and was selected in the 25th round of the 1949 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Rams, but never played for them.

Matthews’ father, Matty Matthews, coached boxing, baseball, and track at The Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina.

Matthews was the father of Pro Bowler Clay Matthews Jr. and Pro Football Hall of Famer Bruce Matthews, as well as the grandfather of Green Bay Packers linebacker Clay Matthews III, Kevin Matthews (played center with the Carolina Panthers), Jake Matthews (currently plays tackle on the Atlanta Falcons) and linebacker Casey Matthews of the Minnesota Vikings.

Matthews died in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina.

Clay Matthews Sr. passed away at 88 years old.