Former NFL journalist John Clayton has died at the age of 67.

Former NFL reporter and commentator John Clayton died Friday after a “brief illness.” He was 67 years old.

Clayton, known as “The Professor,” worked for 23 years for The Pittsburgh Press and the Tacoma News Tribune, where he was a BAT reporter. Seattle Sea HawksA statement from the Pittsburgh Steelers and the NFL, Seattle, said. He went on to become an NFL insider for ESPN in 1995. And most recently he was on the radio – hosting the John Clayton Weekend Show in Seattle, and reporting from the sidelines for the Seattle Seahawks Radio Network.

Seahawks wrote that he won the Dick McCain Award in 2007 for “long and distinguished reporting on professional football”.

“For five decades, it has covered the league with unlimited energy and professionalism,” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement on Saturday. “He earned my respect and admiration as a journalist, but more importantly, as a wonderful person, especially because of his love, care and devotion to his wife Pete. “

In a ___ Statement Late Friday, the Steelers called Clayton a “Pittsburgh media icon” who “became one of the NFL’s most respected reporters.”

Clayton was also a longtime selector for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Tweeted“Its impact and contribution to the game of football will be remembered.”

According to ESPNClayton was about to break the news 10 days ago that longtime Hawks quarterback Russell Wilson was going to join the Denver Broncos. Wilson responds to news of Clayton’s death Tweeted“We will all remember your words and your perfection.”

ESPN network too Tweeted Condolences to Clayton’s family on Friday. “We’ve all learned something from the ‘Professor’ over the years and we will miss him very much.”