Mike Matthews - Writing His Own Chapter in Family Legacy
Oct 09, 2015 | Football
When you're a Matthews, football is in your future. Because it certainly has filled the family's past.
This gridiron lineage, the likes of which the game has never seen, begins with Clay Matthews, Sr. He played four NFL seasons with the San Francisco 49ers during the 1950s after his collegiate career at Georgia Tech. Those four pro seasons were divided into two different stints, because of his military service in the Korean War. His National Football League career was modest. What it lead to, was anything but.
"There's no way he could have envisioned this," says Aggie center Mike Matthews, Clay Sr.'s grandson.
"Especially, when back in the day you played football part time, then you had a real job on the side. They didn't make a whole lot of money back then. (Now) you can make a wealthy living off football. I don't think he could have foresaw that we would be so blessed and fortunate to have the talent to play in the league."
The patriarch of this pigskin-persuaded group truly was blessed. With two sons that didn't just carry on the Matthews moniker within the game, they made it a household name.
Bruce and Clay Matthews, Jr combined to play 38 NFL seasons. Yes, its split down the middle, both having played 19. Clay has the distinction of being the oldest player in the league's history to record a sack, and Bruce is a Hall of Famer.
The family tree continued to branch out, as the clan's football prowess grew. Clay Jr's sons, Clay III and Casey, both have NFL experience. Kyle played safety at USC. Clay III is in his seventh season with the Green Bay Packers, and has been selected to the Pro Bowl five times.
Mike Matthews belongs to Bruce. He is the third son of the Hall of Famer to play for Texas A&M. Before Mike came Kevin, who wore the Maroon and White from '06-'09 and played five NFL seasons. Jake came to College Station next. He helped usher the Aggies into the SEC, playing in College Station from 2010-13before becoming the sixth pick of the 2014 NFL Draft, selected by the Atlanta Falcons.
That makes seven members of the Matthews family that have played in the National Football League.
Mike appears to have enough to make it eight.
It is likely in his future, and the thought of it makes him harken back to his past.
"My earliest memories of football are playing with the Brentwood Blaze in Tennessee when my dad was still playing with the Titans over in Nashville," Mike recalls, also stating he was five or six years old at the time.
Growing up, Bruce was always there with guidance and instruction, but never forcing it on his children.
"He never pushed it on us, he always let it be our decision whether we wanted to play or not," states Mike.
In fact, the pushing came from the kids.
"We would ask him to take us out on the field and do drills," Mike says. "We'd be in high school during the offseason and say 'Dad do you want to go to the field and work on some stuff?' He'd do it. It was hot, we'd sweat and he's doing drills he's done his entire life. Once it became serious for us he took the initiative."
Once Kevin made the move to Texas A&M, starting this family tradition, Mike took notice.
"Kevin going here gave me a taste of what this great university is about," states Mike. "It never donned on me that I'd have the same chance (as older Aggie brothers Kevin and Jake), but (when they offered) I knew deep down in my heart I was going to choose this great university."
Mike is not the last of the line when it comes to the Matthews on the gridiron, and maybe not even the last Aggie. The tradition began with Bruce and Clay Jr attending USC. That's where Clay III went as well. The new generation has turned their attention to College Station.
When it comes to football families, most are immediately drawn to the Mannings. And, there is no question Archie, Peyton and Eli have brought plenty of quality to the game. But, along with quality, it's the Matthews that have the quantity.
Perhaps they should proclaim the title of Football's First Family.
"Absolutely," Mike affirms. "The Mannings are obviously a little more high profile being at the quarterback position, but God's blessed us. I mean what do the Mannings have three? We've got seven and maybe more on the way."
Mike says it all laughingly with a smile, and certainly has no plans to throw down the gauntlet and challenge the Manning trio. He's simply thankful to be a Matthews.
From his days with the Brentwood Blaze as youth, to blazing his own trail as a collegian, he takes pride in the name on his back when he takes to the field. But as far as becoming his own man, he's certainly branched away from his side of the family and towards the cousins in one way.
"When I started growing my hair out I wasn't even thinking about Clay," Mike says acknowledging his long locks, which are very similar to what made Clay III so popular in the NFL. "I was going through fall camp my sophomore year, and fall camp is such a grind. I said I'm just going to embrace the grind, and grow out my beard and hair. Next thing you know two years have passed and I still haven't cut my hair."
Mike also pointed out how cost-efficient it is not paying for haircuts every month.
Bruce's boys usually keep it short, Clay Jr.'s kids wear it longer (Casey also sported long hair), but it's not hairstyles that define the Matthews. It's their hard work, and drive, that has taken them to football heights no family has ever seen.
What's funny about it all is Clay Sr.'s father, HL Matthews, also centered his life around athletics, just not football. Baseball, basketball and track & field were high on his agenda.
HL had Clay Sr. who worked his way to the NFL, the rest is history. The Matthews are among the hierarchy of football.
Mike may very well blaze his own trail, but success in the game only means you fall in line in this family. NFLers have already made their mark. From Clay Sr. to Bruce and Clay Jr. From Bruce comes Kevin, Jake and Mike. Clay Jr. gave us Clay III, Casey and Kyle.
These genes are engrained in the gridiron. Nobody, absolutely nobody, has run a family business such as this.
"I love football," says Mike. "I've been around it my entire life growing up going to my Dad's games, and my brother's games. Growing up I saw everyone playing, and could see myself doing the same thing."
All told, the Matthews have been in business for 61 years at the professional level.
And counting. There is more to come.
Football is in Mike Matthews' future.
Why?
Because it has certainly been in his past.
This gridiron lineage, the likes of which the game has never seen, begins with Clay Matthews, Sr. He played four NFL seasons with the San Francisco 49ers during the 1950s after his collegiate career at Georgia Tech. Those four pro seasons were divided into two different stints, because of his military service in the Korean War. His National Football League career was modest. What it lead to, was anything but.
"There's no way he could have envisioned this," says Aggie center Mike Matthews, Clay Sr.'s grandson.
"Especially, when back in the day you played football part time, then you had a real job on the side. They didn't make a whole lot of money back then. (Now) you can make a wealthy living off football. I don't think he could have foresaw that we would be so blessed and fortunate to have the talent to play in the league."
The patriarch of this pigskin-persuaded group truly was blessed. With two sons that didn't just carry on the Matthews moniker within the game, they made it a household name.
Bruce and Clay Matthews, Jr combined to play 38 NFL seasons. Yes, its split down the middle, both having played 19. Clay has the distinction of being the oldest player in the league's history to record a sack, and Bruce is a Hall of Famer.
The family tree continued to branch out, as the clan's football prowess grew. Clay Jr's sons, Clay III and Casey, both have NFL experience. Kyle played safety at USC. Clay III is in his seventh season with the Green Bay Packers, and has been selected to the Pro Bowl five times.
Mike Matthews belongs to Bruce. He is the third son of the Hall of Famer to play for Texas A&M. Before Mike came Kevin, who wore the Maroon and White from '06-'09 and played five NFL seasons. Jake came to College Station next. He helped usher the Aggies into the SEC, playing in College Station from 2010-13before becoming the sixth pick of the 2014 NFL Draft, selected by the Atlanta Falcons.
That makes seven members of the Matthews family that have played in the National Football League.
Mike appears to have enough to make it eight.
It is likely in his future, and the thought of it makes him harken back to his past.
"My earliest memories of football are playing with the Brentwood Blaze in Tennessee when my dad was still playing with the Titans over in Nashville," Mike recalls, also stating he was five or six years old at the time.
Growing up, Bruce was always there with guidance and instruction, but never forcing it on his children.
"He never pushed it on us, he always let it be our decision whether we wanted to play or not," states Mike.
In fact, the pushing came from the kids.
"We would ask him to take us out on the field and do drills," Mike says. "We'd be in high school during the offseason and say 'Dad do you want to go to the field and work on some stuff?' He'd do it. It was hot, we'd sweat and he's doing drills he's done his entire life. Once it became serious for us he took the initiative."
Once Kevin made the move to Texas A&M, starting this family tradition, Mike took notice.
"Kevin going here gave me a taste of what this great university is about," states Mike. "It never donned on me that I'd have the same chance (as older Aggie brothers Kevin and Jake), but (when they offered) I knew deep down in my heart I was going to choose this great university."
Mike is not the last of the line when it comes to the Matthews on the gridiron, and maybe not even the last Aggie. The tradition began with Bruce and Clay Jr attending USC. That's where Clay III went as well. The new generation has turned their attention to College Station.
When it comes to football families, most are immediately drawn to the Mannings. And, there is no question Archie, Peyton and Eli have brought plenty of quality to the game. But, along with quality, it's the Matthews that have the quantity.
Perhaps they should proclaim the title of Football's First Family.
"Absolutely," Mike affirms. "The Mannings are obviously a little more high profile being at the quarterback position, but God's blessed us. I mean what do the Mannings have three? We've got seven and maybe more on the way."
Mike says it all laughingly with a smile, and certainly has no plans to throw down the gauntlet and challenge the Manning trio. He's simply thankful to be a Matthews.
From his days with the Brentwood Blaze as youth, to blazing his own trail as a collegian, he takes pride in the name on his back when he takes to the field. But as far as becoming his own man, he's certainly branched away from his side of the family and towards the cousins in one way.
"When I started growing my hair out I wasn't even thinking about Clay," Mike says acknowledging his long locks, which are very similar to what made Clay III so popular in the NFL. "I was going through fall camp my sophomore year, and fall camp is such a grind. I said I'm just going to embrace the grind, and grow out my beard and hair. Next thing you know two years have passed and I still haven't cut my hair."
Mike also pointed out how cost-efficient it is not paying for haircuts every month.
Bruce's boys usually keep it short, Clay Jr.'s kids wear it longer (Casey also sported long hair), but it's not hairstyles that define the Matthews. It's their hard work, and drive, that has taken them to football heights no family has ever seen.
What's funny about it all is Clay Sr.'s father, HL Matthews, also centered his life around athletics, just not football. Baseball, basketball and track & field were high on his agenda.
HL had Clay Sr. who worked his way to the NFL, the rest is history. The Matthews are among the hierarchy of football.
Mike may very well blaze his own trail, but success in the game only means you fall in line in this family. NFLers have already made their mark. From Clay Sr. to Bruce and Clay Jr. From Bruce comes Kevin, Jake and Mike. Clay Jr. gave us Clay III, Casey and Kyle.
These genes are engrained in the gridiron. Nobody, absolutely nobody, has run a family business such as this.
"I love football," says Mike. "I've been around it my entire life growing up going to my Dad's games, and my brother's games. Growing up I saw everyone playing, and could see myself doing the same thing."
All told, the Matthews have been in business for 61 years at the professional level.
And counting. There is more to come.
Football is in Mike Matthews' future.
Why?
Because it has certainly been in his past.
Players Mentioned
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