Remembering ‘The Professor,’ John Clayton
• UPDATED: John Clayton, a Hall of Fame football journalist, longtime ESPN NFL analyst, Seattle radio institution and a beloved teammate of everyone at Bonneville’s KIRO-AM (Seattle Sports 710 AM) passed away Friday afternoon, March 18 at the age of 67.
Known and loved by millions of sports fans as “The Professor,” Clayton enjoyed a 50-year career covering the Pittsburgh Steelers and Seattle Seahawks, as a beat writer for The Tacoma News Tribune, a long tenure as an ESPN NFL analyst, and hosting sports radio shows in Seattle, including Seattle Sports 710 AM on Saturdays for the past 14 years, as well as a longtime columnist for SeattleSports.com.
“John was a treasured member of our team,” said Cathy Cangiano, SVP/Market Manager of Bonneville Seattle. “John was a legend in our industry and a true Hall-of-Famer. He was a consistent advocate for the game of football. His connections, friendships and relationships throughout the sports world were simply unmatched. His love of football was only surpassed by his love, loyalty and dedication to his wife Pat. John will be greatly missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Pat and his family and friends.”
“John was an amazing journalist, colleague and friend,” said Kyle Brown, PD of Seattle Sports 710 AM. “A Hall of Famer both personally and professionally, John was one of the most loyal people you’d ever meet. While his loyalty extended to friends and co-workers, it was never stronger than in his commitment to his beloved wife Pat, who he cherished every moment of his life. Our Seattle Sports family will miss John dearly and keep his family in our hearts.”
Seattle Sports 710 AM will air a tribute show in John’s regular Saturday timeslot tomorrow, March 19 from 8-11am, hosted by Bob Stelton, and featuring various Seattle Sports voices past and present, as well as John’s regular callers.
• And thanks to Clayton’s longtime ESPN colleague Adam Schefter, let us never forget that Clayton starred in possibly the greatest “This Is SportsCenter” promo ever!
John Clayton will be remembered in so many ways, from how he looked after his wife Pat, to the mark he made in reporting, to the standard he set. He dedicated his life to his wife and to football. He was a pioneer, a caretaker, a Hall of Famer and a slayer, in every sense. pic.twitter.com/34rFeSjiEW
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 19, 2022
