Despite having not played since 2019, Clay Matthews says he's officially retired

Clay Matthews has been apparently holding onto hope that the Green Bay Packers or Los Angeles Rams were going to want him back.

Despite not having played a snap since 2019, Matthews has seemingly kept his options open and his phone on as an NFL free agent for the past few seasons.

His time waiting is now officially done, though. This is according to Brandon Carwile of Packers Wire, who spoke to Matthews and wrote about his retirement.

“My playing days are over,” Matthews said.

Although the six-time Pro Bowler did admit that he hoped he'd end up back with the Packers after a stint in L.A., a homecoming to Green Bay never transpired at the end of his playing career. Now a retiree, though, Matthews is hoping that he'll be able to retire a Packer.

“I definitely look forward to it,” Matthews said regarding the possibility of going back to Green Bay and officially retiring with the organization. “My kids are getting older, so they understand what I was able to do, so I very much look forward to showing them around Lambeau, and where we used to live, and all the things that were an integral part of their young lives and my young life as well.

“I would definitely be very appreciative and humbled.”

Matthews notched 83.5 sacks from 2009 to 2018 with the Packers. He's retiring as the franchise's all-time leader in sacks.