So many sports fans around the world grew up watching ESPN. For so many of us — including myself — it was their first introduction to the sports world at large.
That meant so many of us got to see John Clayton at work. For NFL fans, he was an absolute staple when it came to the coverage of the league.
Looking for free agency or trade news? Better catch that John Clayton segment. He was always going to give you the skinny on the latest from around the league. In my household and so many others, John Clayton was a legend.
We lost that legend on Friday.
Clayton died from what was described as a “brief illness” by his colleague, Chris Mortensen.
John Clayton passed away today at a Seattle area hospital. His wife Pat and sister Amy were at his side and communicated earlier he passed peacefully after a brief illness.
We loved John. We are mourning his loss.
Pat has asked the @Seahawks to release further information.— Chris Mortensen (@mortreport) March 19, 2022
ESPN shared the news, too.
John Clayton, one of our NFL insiders who expertly covered the league for more than 20 years at ESPN, died Friday at 67 after a brief illness.
We all learned something from "The Professor" over the years and we will miss him dearly. pic.twitter.com/bfiPCPUYZo
— ESPN (@espn) March 19, 2022
Then the tributes started pouring in from friends, colleagues and fans from around the sports world.