Former Browns linebacker Clay Matthews joined 14 other former players as finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2021. The linebacker played for the Browns for 16 seasons before spending his final three years with the Atlanta Falcons. Matthews joins first time finalists Peyton Manning, Calvin Johnson, Charles Woodson, and Jared Allen. Others making the finalist list include cornerback Ronde Barber, tackle Tony Boselli, safety LeRoy Butler, guard Alan Faneca, wide receiver Torry Holt, safety John Lynch, linebacker Clay Matthews Jr., linebacker Sam Mills, defensive lineman Richard Seymour, linebacker Zach Thomas and wide receiver Reggie Wayne.

The list will be trimmed to as many as five who will be enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame the night before the Super Bowl in Tampa. The enshrinement ceremony will take place in Canton during the Hall of Fame festivities scheduled for August 5-9, and will also include the enshrinement of the 2020 class.