Legendary Hall of Fame Reporter

John Clayton

John Clayton was a longtime NFL insider and member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame best known for his tenure with ESPN. He hosted The John Clayton Show from 8-11 a.m. on Seattle Sports each Saturday, and was a sideline reporter on Seahawks Radio Network game broadcasts. John passed away in March 2022, and is survived by his wife Patricia.

JOHN CLAYTON | Jul 11, 2018
Clayton: What Seahawks need from run game to return to playoffs in 2018

The running game will be the thing to watch this year if the Seahawks hope to make the playoffs, so John Clayton takes a look at what they need out of their backfield in 2018.
JOHN CLAYTON | Jul 2, 2018
Clayton: Kam Chancellor’s physical style quickly earned the respect of his teammates

It may be a tough road to the Pro Football Hall of Fame after Kam Chancellor's career was cut short by injury, but John Clayton writes that what he did for the Seahawks won't be forgotten.
JOHN CLAYTON | Jun 29, 2018
SCHOOLED with ‘The Professor’ John Clayton: Gridiron genius with Michael Lombardi

On SCHOOLED with the Professor this week, you will really get a chance to get a great education. Former NFL general manager Michael Lombardi has a book coming out Sept. 11 that details the behind-the-scenes brilliance of three NFL greats: Bill Walsh, Al Davis and Bill Belichick.
JOHN CLAYTON | Jun 28, 2018
Clayton: The good – and bad – news for Seahawks following Danielle Hunter’s $72 million extension

For the good or the bad of the Seahawks front office, Danielle Hunter’s $72 million extension gives guidance to what Frank Clark could make in his next deal.
JOHN CLAYTON | Jun 27, 2018
Clayton: Sacks will be important for Seahawks, but how will they get them?

Without Cliff Avril and Michael Bennett, the Seahawks have to figure out a way to make up their sack production in 2018. Frank Clark and Dion Jordan will be key, but they won't be the full answer, as John Clayton explains.
JOHN CLAYTON | Jun 22, 2018
SCHOOLED with “The Professor” John Clayton: College football preview with Phil Steele

What a thrill it is to have Phil Steele on this week’s Schooled with the Professor! This week, we get into the many analytical and statistical tools he uses to project how well schools will do in a season.
JOHN CLAYTON | Jun 21, 2018
Clayton: A look at the Seahawks’ upcoming contract decisions

Let the negotiating begin. 710 ESPN Seattle's John Clayton takes a look at which players are due up for contract extensions with the Seahawks.
JOHN CLAYTON | Jun 15, 2018
Clayton: Final observations from Seahawks’ mandatory minicamp

Wide receiver David Moore is impressing, Shaquill Griffin looks natural at left corner, Doug Baldwin is showing leadership, and believe it or not, there's a legitimate competition at kicker. 'The Professor' John Clayton offers his final observations from the Seahawks' three-day minicamp.
JOHN CLAYTON | Jun 8, 2018
Clayton’s observations from OTAs: Wilson, Baldwin have had best offseason, DE still a concern

Even though the coaching staff and the roster underwent their biggest changes since Pete Carroll took over the team in 2010, he believes the team has recaptured the mentality in practice that worked so well for making this franchise a Super Bowl contender.
JOHN CLAYTON | Jun 4, 2018
Clayton: New O-line coach Mike Solari could be the key for Seahawks

The addition of Mike Solari as offensive line coach could be even more important than that of offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer for the Seahawks. John Clayton explains why.
JOHN CLAYTON | May 31, 2018
Clayton: A ‘humble’ Brandon Marshall looks to revive career in Seattle

Brandon Marshall comes to the Seahawks humble and proud. He arrived humble because, as he said, the calls for his services wasn’t great.
JOHN CLAYTON | May 25, 2018
Clayton: Observations from Seahawks’ OTAs

710 ESPN Seattle's John Clayton offers the biggest takeaways from Seahawks' OTAs, including notes on Russell Wilson, Jaron Brown, and which notable players sat out.
JOHN CLAYTON | May 22, 2018
Clayton: NFL’s new kickoff rules are a positive for the Seahawks

With one of the best return men in the game in Tyler Lockett, the Seahawks will be at an advantage with the NFL's new kickoff rules. John Clayton explains how.
JOHN CLAYTON | May 14, 2018
Clayton: How I connected with Chuck Knox while covering the Seahawks

Coming from similar backgrounds in Western Pennsylvania and ending up in the Seattle area in the 1980s, John Clayton forged a good relationship with former Seahawks coach Chuck Knox.
JOHN CLAYTON | May 7, 2018
Clayton: First impressions from Seahawks rookie minicamp

The Seahawks' three-day rookie minicamp had a few surprises and left 710 ESPN Seattle's John Clayton with some interesting impressions of the 2018 draft class.
JOHN CLAYTON | Apr 30, 2018
Clayton: Seahawks putting it all on the line with run game, just like in 2011

There are plenty of parallels to be drawn between the way the Seahawks built their team in 2011 compared to this offseason, especially when it comes to the run game, writes John Clayton.
JOHN CLAYTON | Apr 27, 2018
Clayton: Breaking down Seahawks picks Rashaad Penny, Rasheem Green

The Professor John Clayton looks at the maneuvers Seahawks GM John Schneider made to add picks and still get two players he wanted in the NFL Draft: Rashaad Penny and Rasheem Green.
JOHN CLAYTON | Apr 26, 2018
John Clayton’s SCHOOLED: NFL return great Devin Hester

Devin Hester, a potential Hall of Famer and onetime Seahawks return man, joins John Clayton on SCHOOLED to talk about the return game and the NFL possibly ditching kickoffs.
JOHN CLAYTON | Apr 24, 2018
Clayton: How the Seahawks have used draft day trades to their advantage

Seahawks general manager John Schneider has used 19 draft day trades in his time with the Seahawks. John Clayton breaks down how they have worked out for Seattle.
JOHN CLAYTON | Apr 20, 2018
John Clayton’s SCHOOLED: NFL Draft preview with Gil Brandt

This week on SCHOOLED with The Professor, we preview the NFL Draft with Gil Brand, former Cowboys VP of Player Personnel and now a senior analyst for NFL.com overseeing which players the NFL invites to draft night.
JOHN CLAYTON | Apr 19, 2018
Clayton: Why Seahawks’ pick of Malik McDowell could leave positive legacy

The Seahawks' selection of Malik McDowell didn't work out, but there is a legacy of draft picks that resulted from trading down to get him that could ultimately make that draft a success.
JOHN CLAYTON | Apr 14, 2018
Clayton: Seahawks set now at kicker, but expect more to come at backup QB

The Seahawks' crazy offseason continued Friday, as they added kicker Sebastian Janikowski and a potential reserve quarterback, although maybe not who they're looking to be their backup.
JOHN CLAYTON | Apr 12, 2018
Clayton: How the Seahawks’ compensatory pick situation impacts likelihood of UFA QB signing

The Seahawks haven't managed to secure any compensatory draft picks through free agency. 710 ESPN Seattle's John Clayton explores what that could mean for them moving forward.
JOHN CLAYTON | Apr 11, 2018
John Clayton’s SCHOOLED: Top NFL Draft QBs with Jordan Palmer

Longtime NFL backup quarterback Jordan Palmer talks to John Clayton about Sam Darnold and Josh Allen, the two top QB prospects he is training ahead of the NFL Draft, on the latest episode of SCHOOLED.