CLEVELAND — Former Cleveland Browns linebacker Clay Matthews Jr. has been named a semifinalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame for the second straight year.
This is the fourth time since 2012 that Matthews' has been named a semifinalist.
Matthews, considered one of the league’s best linebackers and most durable players, played in 278 games — the 17th most in NFL history — and made 1,561 tackles over that span. Matthews was a three-time All-Pro and received four Pro Bowl nods.
He was inducted into the Browns' Ring of Honor this season.
Former Browns linebacker Carl Banks was also named a semifinalist.
The group of 25 Modern-Era finalists will be reduced to 15 on Jan. 2, 2020.
The finalists will then be presented to the 48-member Pro Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee during its annual meeting on Feb. 1, 2020, the day before Super Bowl LIV. Later that evening, the five honorees will be announced as part of the NFL Honors awards special.
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