Clay Matthews is leaning into a very different kind of offseason image.
TMZ posted an AI-generated version of the former Green Bay Packers star in a paid partnership, showing him with an oversized chin, a massive frame and a grocery cart in hand. The photo is fake, but Matthews didn’t exactly push back on the gag.
“Gigaclay,” Matthews posted on X (formerly Twitter).
Gigaclay 💪📈
- Clay Matthews III (@ClayMatthews52) September 4, 2026
That playful response comes as Matthews appears to be settling into his next role, with preparation underway for his work as an NFL studio analyst on Netflix. The edited image may be exaggerated, but it also circles back to the player he was before any of this: one of the defining defenders of his era in Green Bay.
Matthews entered the league as the 26th overall pick in the 2009 draft and wasted little time becoming a force for the Packers. He earned First Team All Pro honors during Green Bay’s Super Bowl-winning 2010 season and went on to make six Pro Bowls in his decade with the franchise.
His career finished with the Los Angeles Rams, where he ended up with 91.5 sacks, 519 tackles, 130 tackles for loss, 17 forced fumbles and six interceptions.
The over-the-top “Gigaclay” version may be a joke, but it’s also a reminder of how far Matthews’ profile has come. He’s now moving toward a new chapter while getting ready for Thursday’s matchup between the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers in Melbourne.
In Other News...
Packers Already Have An Early Week 1 Injury Concern
The Packers got back on the field Sept. 9 to start sharpening their plan for the season opener against Minnesota, but the first practice of the week already came with a few health questions. Defensive tackle Warren Brinson sat out with a calf injury, while linebacker TyRon Hopper was also sidelined because of an unspecified injury, trimming some of the depth Green Bay would prefer to have available this early in the season.
Matt LaFleur also had to monitor the offensive line situation, where right tackle Zach Bako-Bewele and left guard Aaron Banks both took part in practice but were limited as they work back from knee issues. LaFleur said their status will be evaluated daily, which leaves the Packers watching a couple of important spots closely as the week unfolds before they face the Vikings. [Read more 🡒]
Packers Practice Squad Move Hints At A Bigger Offensive Plan
The Packers used their last open practice-squad spot on rookie running back Damon Bankston, a move that adds another layer to a backfield and offense that already feel in flux. Bankston had been on Green Bays radar before the draft as a visitor, then signed with the Giants as an undrafted free agent before finding his way back to the Packers.
What makes the addition noteworthy is how well he matches the direction Green Bay appears to be leaning. Bankston fits the teams outside zone-based approach, a detail that suggests the Packers are not just filling space at the end of the roster, but quietly shaping the depth chart around a specific offensive identity as they sort through the next phase of the offense. [Read more 🡒]
Tucker Kraft Made One Costly Choice That Packers Fans Will Love
Tucker Krafts rise with the Packers has been built on a mix of production, toughness and a little bit of loyalty that Green Bay fans can appreciate. The tight end has already put together 113 catches for 1,551 yards across his first three NFL seasons, even though his third year was cut short after eight games by an ACL injury. He is still recovering from that knee injury, and the bigger picture around him has only grown more interesting as he heads into the final year of his rookie contract.
The part that will stand out most to Packers fans is what Kraft chose not to do before he ever reached the NFL. During college, he passed on a transfer opportunity to Alabama and stayed at South Dakota State, a decision that helped define the path he took to Green Bay. Now, with a potential extension expected and his future with the Packers coming into focus, that same kind of loyalty looks like it could pay off again. [Read more 🡒]