Jake was our first Texas-bred child. He’d been a quarterback since he began playing in Pee Wee football, but once he tried offensive tackle in high school he knew he’d found his sweet spot. He was an outstanding player at Elkins High and an All-American at Texas A&M. The one time I’ve had any alcohol since I quit drinking was in April 2014—I had a glass of champagne to celebrate Jake being drafted sixth overall, the highest ever for a Matthews, by the Atlanta Falcons. He’s been their starting left tackle ever since and his NFL career is off to a great start.
“Our family is a pretty down-to-earth group,” Jake says. “We usually don’t say much and we work hard. And if we commit to something, we’re not going to quit. That mindset almost goes without saying for the whole family.”
Mikey is in some ways the opposite of me as a football player. Even when I first started coaching and Mikey was an eight-year-old, he showed a wild, vocal passion as a player. He’d run down the field yelling and screaming like a madman. I remember him taking guys out as a blocker, which was great except that it was during pregame warmups and they were on our team. He was a natural and knew it, to the point that he once basically told me that he knew as much about offensive line play as I did. He was nine years old at the time.
Recently, Mikey confessed to giving me a few difficult moments back then. “How’d you put up with me?” he said. “I must have been a pain to coach.”
“Exactly,” I said.
Mikey had an exceptional career at Texas A&M and was among the final roster cuts by the Cleveland Browns before the 2016 season. He has a great chance to join another team and carve out an NFL career.
“For me, it’s a dream come true,” Mikey says. “People ask if I feel extra pressure to live up to the Matthews family reputation, but we were always told we didn’t have to play football, so I don’t feel any pressure. I play the game because I love it and want to accomplish my own dreams.”
Luke was christened “The Boy” by Kevin soon after he was born and the nickname has stuck—though at six feet four inches and 310 pounds, he doesn’t look much like a boy anymore. When he was younger he loved to follow his brothers or me around. He would “help” Kevin and Mikey when they were taking care of cows for a Future Farmers of America show or run a gasser with me during my workouts. Today, he’s still following in those footsteps. The coaches at Texas A&M must have liked what they saw in Kevin, Jake, and Mikey, because they offered Luke a football scholarship in 2015. He won’t graduate from high school until 2018.
Like many of his siblings, Luke also points to our family’s closeness as a reason for whatever success we’ve achieved. “Everyone’s very caring,” he says. “We support each other’s decisions and are happy to be together. It’s a tight-knit group.”
Gwenie would agree. When she’s with the family, giving and receiving hugs, you can tell there’s no place she’d rather be. I’ve loved watching her siblings grow up, take on new responsibilities, and chase their dreams, but it’s a blessing to know that even when Luke moves on, we’ll still have Gwenie at home. No matter what happens with the weather, she is the daily sunshine in my life.
Since this is a football book, I’d be remiss if I didn’t give the family’s other NFL veterans a chance to comment as well on what’s allowed so many of us to pursue a career in the game.
You already know about Bruz. Today he’s enjoying the California life, being a dad and grandfather, and attending games being played by the family’s next generation. As far as any Matthews family secrets to success, he points to two things: “Number one is that we’re blessed with bodies that can take a licking. It’s allowed us to show up day in and day out.” (Speaking of good genes, Carrie says she deserves credit for our kids’ NFL success too. As evidence, she points to her nephew Troy Niklas, who’s been a tight end with the Arizona Cardinals since 2014. I have to admit that she’s probably right.)
“And then, to a degree,” Bruz adds, “we want to be the best. I give my dad credit for that. He always told us, ‘Look, if you’re going to do something, do it to the best of your ability. Why not be the best at it?’ ”
Bruz’s son Clay III—we call him “Little Clay”—is the best known of the current Matthews players in the NFL. After walking on at USC, he became one of the team’s top players and has since found tremendous success as an outside linebacker with the Packers. He has a motor that never seems to stop running, on the field and off. He and his wife, Casey, have a son named—naturally—Clay IV.
Clay agrees with his dad that genetics and a drive to be the best have fueled the Matthews NFL legacy. The longer he plays, he says, the more meaningful that becomes.
“When you’re younger you tend to take it all for granted,” Clay says. “But the older you get, the more you look at families with a legacy, like the Mannings. Then you look at our family and all the statistics, the games and years played, the Pro Bowls. To do that generation after generation—that is something special, something we take a lot of pride in.”
You might wonder if Clay wants his son to continue the legacy.
“There won’t be any pressure to play,” he says. “Hopefully, he’ll be a surgeon or something where he can use his brain rather than hitting his head against people. But if he’s so inclined to pick up a football and get after it? Absolutely, I’m going to encourage him and help him develop the tools he needs.”
The original Casey in the family is Clay’s younger brother. He and his wife, Alyssa, live in California and have a son, Braylon. After helping lead Oregon to the national championship game following the 2010 season, Casey played linebacker for four years with the Philadelphia Eagles, which included eleven starts in 2014. A hip injury forced him to spend 2015 on injured reserve with the Minnesota Vikings.
Though Casey always loved the game, it wasn’t until his brother was drafted by the Packers that the NFL felt like an attainable dream. “When I was in college and saw that,” Casey says, “and I knew that the next step was the pros, that’s when I changed my focus, hunkered down, and started pushing myself as hard as I could.”
Maybe part of being a Matthews means being just plain stubborn.
“I think it’s how we were raised, starting with my great-grandpa, Matty Matthews,” Casey says. “It’s been passed down to us. We’ve got this stubborn mentality—whatever we want, we’re going to work as hard as we can to get it.”
I believe that, as a group, the Matthews family has worked hard to build a loving, supportive family. It doesn’t happen as often as it used to, but all the cousins talk about how much they enjoy our family gatherings. When they were younger, that meant renting beach houses in Charleston or staying on our property near Houston for Easter. Those Easter celebrations were major productions that included an Easter basket hunt. One year, Carrie hollowed out ten empty pizza box cartons—we did put away a lot of food—and hid a basket inside. There was also hunting and fishing, as well as spirited egg-toss and basketball competitions. The main event for the kids, though, seemed to be roaming over our acreage on four-wheelers, go-carts, and dirt bikes, along with riding the tractors we used to haul trees and brush to create a massive bonfire. It was always a good time.
Today, it seems to be weddings that bring us all together, most recently when Little Clay and Casey tied the knot. The next day we were all in Bruz and Leslie’s backyard, eating catered Mexican food and—what else?—competing. Mikey and Luke were probably facing off against Clay and Steven in a KanJam disc game while Bruz and I played hoops (I’m sure I must have won). It’s what we do.
Bruz and I may no longer have the opportunity to square off against each other in the NFL, but the current generation still features an occasional round of Matthews vs. Matthews. In 2014, Jake’s rookie year, the Packers hosted the Falcons at Lambeau Field. “It was exciting,” Jake says. “It was my first Monday night game; it snowed in the first half. It was the perfect environment. And it was pretty cool to play against my cousin, someone I grew up with. I finally got to see how
good he was.”
Of course there was some mild trash talk between the cousins during the game. At one point after a play, the veteran decided to introduce the rookie to the NFL and gave him a shove. “He turned around real quick, then saw it was me,” Clay says. “He got this smirk on his face. A few plays later, after they gashed us for a run, he shoved me in the back. That’s the type of relationship we have—it’s fun. It’s all about competing.”
Whether they’re competing in the NFL or in the larger arena of life, I am so proud of each of my kids and extended family. They’re all winners and all represent the family name with honor. They are my true legacy. I couldn’t ask for more.
Today, I enjoy my life in the Houston area. Besides spending time with the family, I’m leading or helping lead three Bible studies, serving as a chair or cochair of Special Olympics and Fellowship of Christian Athletes golf tournaments, hosting a football camp for kids, and volunteering at a food bank. I’m grateful to have the time now to do those things.
I also still find ways to satisfy my competitive urges, whether it’s a Taboo board game with my family or a doubles tennis match. But I’m living for more than that. Especially since I retired, I’ve become aware that God doesn’t want me to sit on the sidelines. He’s given me a platform to share with people about the hope that I have in Christ and I have a responsibility to use it. I recently joined a national speaker’s bureau to facilitate that. I still get anxious about standing up and speaking in public, but I also realize that when I step out in faith and trust in God’s power instead of my own, it’s going to be okay.
I want to be more available to the Lord. He’s been showing me that if I’m willing to get out of my comfort zone, He can use me in ways that will touch people’s lives. It doesn’t get more rewarding than that. I don’t know what my future holds, but I know that God has a plan for it. I can’t wait.
I’m also so grateful that I get to share that future with Carrie. She is a gift from the Lord. Back in Canton, when I made my Hall of Fame speech, I looked at each member of the audience when I expressed my thanks for his or her contribution to my life. I was worried about letting my emotions get the best of me, but I held it together pretty well until I got to Carrie. When I looked at her, I nearly lost it. The words I said then still apply today: “She is the one thing that I cherish most on this earth. You are my best friend and I hate to think what life would be without you. As great as all the athletic awards and accolades have been, they do not compare to knowing and loving you. I thank God for you and I look forward to whatever He has in store for us next.”
It’s been a great journey and it’s still going. I keep saying it because there’s no other way to describe it: I’ve been blessed.
My dad, Clay Sr., playing football at Georgia Tech in the late 1940s
Clay Sr. playing his guitar with some teammates in the early 1950s
Nine years old, first year of Little League baseball (1971)
Pool games with the Matthews brothers (1972)
With my mom, Daisy, on Photo Day at USC in 1979, just before my first season
First year of basketball at ten years old (1972)
Carrie and me at the Stars and Crescent Ball (1980)
Our wedding day, May 28, 1983
The Matthews Bowl in December 1983, the first and last time Daisy saw all of us boys compete against each other
Me with Steven (1985)
Kevin, me, and Steven on Halloween night. I reported for the season four days later, ending my holdout (1987)
Me with kids (Marilyn, Kevin, and Steven) when there were only three (1989)
Mikey and me (1985)
Here I am giving little preemie Luke his first kiss good night (1999)
With Mikey during my first year coaching youth football (2002)
With Titans owner Bud Adams when the Titans retired my jersey (2002) Photo courtesy of Donn Jones, Tennessee Titans
Gwenie and me on an afternoon bike ride (2005)
With Dad at the Titans game, where I was presented with the Hall of Fame ring (2007)
The Matthews family at the Hall of Fame ceremony (2007)
Mike Munchak, Kevin, and me with the Titans (2009)
From left to right: Me, Kevin, Clay III, and Clay Junior at a Packers/Titans game (2012) Photo courtesy of Donn Jones, Tennessee Titans
Entire family after an Aggie game (2014)
Here I am with Jake after he was selected in the first round by the Atlanta Falcons (2014)
With my two grandsons, Sawyer and Weston, in South Carolina’s Isle of Palms (2015)
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
IN 2007, AROUND THE TIME that I was named to the Hall of Fame, I was surprised by a statement from my financial advisor, Jay Branson: “You know, Bruce, you should write a book about your experiences and life. Then you should speak about them.”
My response was less than total enthusiasm: “Are you out of your mind?”
Undaunted, Jay put me in touch with a speaker’s bureau, which led me to an excellent literary agent named Frank Breeden. Frank also encouraged me to pursue a book.
I had no interest in writing a book. Who would want to read about me? But if people I respected thought it was a good idea, I figured I’d better pray about it. I also talked it through with Carrie. The consensus was that if the Lord was nudging me in the direction of a book, I’d better not stand in His way. As I’ve gotten past my anxiety over feeling I have nothing to say, I’ve sensed the Lord telling me, “You don’t have to do any heavy lifting. I’m the one who’s going to change lives. Just trust Me.”
To my surprise, I’ve actually enjoyed the book experience. With that in mind, I have a few people to thank:
Jay Branson, for suggesting the idea and putting the wheels in motion.
Frank Breeden, for recognizing the potential of this project before I could see it and for your enthusiasm and professionalism every step of the way.
Jim Lund, for your ability to draw my story out of me and for making this process so easy for Carrie and me. As you know, I was reluctant to read those first few chapters, but once I realized it was a great read, I couldn’t wait for the next one.
Lisa Stilwell and the entire team at Howard Books, for your commitment to, and enthusiasm for, this book and for inviting me into your publishing family.
Robbie Bohren in the Titans organization, for help with game stats, and Bob Green, for comments on the manuscript.
All the friends, teammates, coaches, opponents, pastors, mentors, and fans who have shared the journey with me, including those named in the book and those I didn’t have room to mention. I wouldn’t be here without your support.
My family. You guys mean everything to me. You’re more than the NFL’s First Family—you’re my First Family. I love each one of you.
Lastly, my wife, Carrie. Your encouragement, feedback, wisdom, and love have blessed me throughout not just the process of writing this book, but every day we’ve been together. You make it all worthwhile.
BRUCE MATTHEWS is one of the greatest offensive linemen to ever play in the National Football League. He was selected to fourteen consecutive Pro Bowls, tied for the all-time record, holds the NFL record for games played by an offensive lineman (296), and is a member of the NFL Hall of Fame. During a nineteen-year career he never missed a game due to injury. Matthews was named to the NFL Hall of Fame’s All-Decade Team (1990s). Before playing professionally, he was an All-American at the University of Southern California. Today, Bruce chairs events such as Special Olympics and Fellowship of Christian Athletes golf tournaments, hosts a youth football camp, and volunteers for charitable organizations. He and his wife, Carrie, have seven children and live in Sugar Land, Texas.
JAMES LUND is an award-winning collaborator and editor and the coauthor of A Dangerous Faith and Danger Calling. He works with bestselling authors and public figures such as Max Lucado, Tim Brown, George Foreman, Kathy Ireland, and Jim Daly. Visit his website at www.jameslundbooks.com.
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Copyright © 2017 by Bruce Matthews
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