Longtime NFL Insider John Clayton, passed away on Friday in Washington, following a brief illness. He was just 67 years old.
Clayton, a popular broadcaster and sports journalist, was considered a pioneer and one of the foremost NFL Insiders in the country. Nicknamed "The Professor" for his knowledge, contacts, and dedication covering the NFL, Clayton had a five-decade long career, including a 10-year stint with the Tacoma News and 20-plus years with ESPN, where he became an NFL icon.
Clayton's most popular contributions at ESPN included a segment dubbed “Four Downs” that saw him go up against NFL analyst and former quarterback Sean Salisbury. He also had a number of memorable appearances on the classic "This is SportsCenter" promotional campaign.
Clayton was a winner of the Pro Football Writers of America award in 2007, and was also a member of the WGR family. He made weekly appearances on "Schopp and the Bulldog" during the NFL season, and his segments were widely considered as appointment listening. Clayton was, once again, a regular with Mike Schopp and Chris Parker this past season on Thursdays at 5 p.m. ET.
A native of Braddock Pennsylvania, Clayton is survived by his wife, Pat, and sister, Amy.
