Clay Matthews Shares Hilarious Draft Night Mix-Up: Mom Thought Patriots Nabbed Him Instead of Packers

Draft night jitters are real—just ask Clay Matthews. Back in 2009, instead of basking in the spotlight of New York City, Matthews was surrounded by family and friends at home, anxiously waiting for that life-changing call. The edge rusher was eventually picked by the Green Bay Packers, but the story of the night turned out to be more sitcom than sports drama.

Reflecting on his own draft experience as he prepares to hang out with this year’s top prospects in the Lowe’s Green Room, Matthews described the tension of waiting: "It’s nerve-wrecking to say the least. Unless you’re the guy going No. 1, you have no clue what’s coming next." Matthews, who went 26th overall, admitted he had no idea where he was headed, with Denver, Houston, and New England all on his mind. Green Bay, already holding a high pick that year, wasn’t even on his radar—until they suddenly traded up and picked him.

But in the chaos of TV screens and family chatter, the Matthews household got a little, well, confused. Matthews' mom somehow missed the Packers' announcement and was convinced her son was headed to the Tom Brady-led New England Patriots. For about an hour, she was ready to pack her bags for Foxborough. When the truth emerged, the shock was real—no Patriots, just cheeseheads in his future.

Good thing, too. Matthews went on to have an epic decade-long run with the Packers: six Pro Bowls, a Defensive Player of the Year award in 2010, and most importantly, a Super Bowl XLV win over the Steelers. Not bad for a guy whose mom almost started rooting for the wrong team.

Now a Packers Hall of Famer and fixture in Green Bay, Matthews is back in the thick of NFL Draft festivities, this time mingling with rookies in a luxury cigar-lounge-inspired Green Room. As he soaks in the scene, Matthews marvels at how far he—and the event—have come, hoping the new crop of players appreciate the moment and the city’s hard work.