The Viral Trump Message: Why Clay Matthews’ 2025 NFL Draft Stunt Shocked The Sports World

The intersection of professional sports and high-stakes politics rarely results in a lighthearted moment, but that is precisely what happened in Green Bay, Wisconsin, during the 2025 NFL Draft. The moment involved Green Bay Packers legend Clay Matthews III and a supposed message from former President Donald Trump. The controversy, which was quickly revealed to be a classic sports rivalry joke, became one of the most talked-about segments of the entire draft weekend, showcasing the power of a simple, well-timed jab to go instantly viral and dominate social media feeds across the nation.

The viral incident, which occurred in the spring of the current year (December 16, 2025), saw the former All-Pro linebacker take the stage to announce a draft pick, only to pause and dramatically pull out a note. The message he read aloud, attributed to President Trump, was a direct and brutal shot at the longtime rival Chicago Bears, ensuring the moment was both hilarious to Packers fans and infuriating to the Bears faithful. This unexpected blend of political name-dropping and storied NFL rivalry is the single most significant recent event linking the two high-profile names.

The Complete Profile of Clay Matthews III

William Clay Matthews III, known simply as Clay Matthews, is one of the most recognizable and dominant defensive players of his generation. His career is marked by a relentless motor, signature long blonde hair, and a lineage deeply rooted in the National Football League (NFL). The Matthews family is considered one of the sport's greatest dynasties.

• The Untouchable Privacy 7 Secrets Of Rachel Mcadams And Jamie Lindens Life Beyond The Red Carpet E820e

• Full Name: William Clay Matthews III
• Born: May 14, 1986, in Los Angeles, California
• Height/Weight: 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) / 255 lb (116 kg)
• College: University of Southern California (USC)
• NFL Draft: 2009, 1st Round, 26th overall pick (Green Bay Packers)
• Primary Position: Outside Linebacker (OLB)
• NFL Career: Green Bay Packers (2009–2018), Los Angeles Rams (2019)
• Retirement: Officially retired in 2022
• Key Achievements: Super Bowl XLV Champion, 6-time Pro Bowl selection, 2010 AP All-Pro First Team, Packers' all-time sack leader (83.5 sacks)
• Post-Career Honors: Inducted into the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame in 2024
• Family Legacy: Son of Clay Matthews Jr. (a 4-time Pro Bowl linebacker) and grandson of Clay Matthews Sr. (a former offensive lineman).

The 2025 NFL Draft Stunt: A Political Prank

The connection between Clay Matthews and Donald Trump is not one of a formal political endorsement or a long-standing friendship, but rather a singular, memorable moment of performance art during the 2025 NFL Draft. The draft was a monumental event for the city of Green Bay, Wisconsin, and the Green Bay Packers organization, marking the first time the city had ever hosted the prestigious event. Matthews, as a beloved franchise icon and the team's all-time sack leader, was the natural choice to announce a pick.

As Matthews approached the podium, the atmosphere was already electric. He began his address with a serious tone, setting up the dramatic reveal. He claimed to have just gotten off the phone with "President Donald Trump" and that the former President had a message for all 32 NFL franchises. The crowd, and the national audience watching on television, immediately braced for a potentially divisive political statement, a scenario that has become increasingly common in the modern sports landscape.

Matthews then delivered the punchline, reading from a piece of paper that simply stated: "The Bears Still Suck." The line was a direct, unapologetic attack on the Chicago Bears, the Packers' oldest and most bitter rival in the National Football League. The reaction was immediate and polarized: the Packers-heavy crowd in Green Bay erupted in cheers and laughter, while sports commentators and social media users across the country debated the source and intent of the message.

• The Enduring Legacy Of Haylor 5 Shocking Facts About Harry Styles And Taylor Swifts Relationship 10 Years Later Sf662

The entire setup was a masterful piece of political misdirection, designed to capitalize on the tension between sports and politics only to pivot to the more familiar, and often more passionate, tension of a classic NFL rivalry. It was a moment that transcended the draft itself, becoming a headline-grabbing story that dominated news cycles for days. The phrase "Bears Still Suck" is a long-standing, unofficial slogan for the rivalry, and attributing it to a figure as polarizing as Donald Trump amplified its reach exponentially.

Unpacking the Intent: Rivalry Over Endorsement

Following the massive reaction to the stunt, Matthews later provided context for the joke, confirming that the message was a pre-planned gag and not an actual political endorsement or a direct quote from the former President. The goal was purely to generate a memorable, hilarious moment that played into the deep-seated animosity of the NFC North rivalry.

The planning for the joke involved Matthews receiving his wife's blessing for the idea, and she even provided some assistance in preparing the note. The stunt was a tribute to the legendary rivalry between the Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Bears, which dates back to the league’s earliest days. Matthews himself was a dominant force in this rivalry, recording 9.5 career sacks against the Bears during his tenure in Green Bay.

• The One Where They Tanked Jokes 15 Shocking New Secrets From The Friends Tv Show Behind The Scenes G9zdh

The humor was rooted in the unexpected shift from a potentially serious political declaration to a simple, fan-favorite trash talk line. The use of Donald Trump’s name was a classic clickbait tactic, executed live on national television, designed to grab the attention of both the sports world and the broader political sphere. The joke was apolitical in its final execution, focusing entirely on the passion of the fan base and the history of the rivalry, which includes decades of intense matchups and memorable moments at historic venues like Lambeau Field and Soldier Field.

The Topical Authority: Entities and Context

The viral nature of the event highlights several key entities and topical connections that define the modern sports-media landscape:

• The NFL Draft as a Cultural Event: The draft has evolved from a simple player selection process into a massive, traveling cultural spectacle. Hosting it in Green Bay, a city synonymous with the Packers, ensured high energy and a partisan crowd, which amplified the reaction to Matthews’ joke.
• The Packers-Bears Rivalry: This is arguably the most historic rivalry in the NFL. Matthews' joke successfully tapped into the collective consciousness of this animosity, which is a major driver of fan engagement and media coverage. The comment was a nod to figures like George Halas and Vince Lombardi, who helped define the rivalry's intensity.
• Political Humor in Sports: While many fans and commentators often call to "keep politics out of sports," Matthews’ joke was a clever subversion of this tension. By using a high-profile political figure's name to deliver a purely sports-related jab, he managed to both acknowledge and deflate the political seriousness of the moment. The use of a phrase like "President Trump" was a deliberate hook to ensure maximum media attention.
• Matthews' Legacy: As a recently inducted Packers Hall of Famer, Matthews’ appearance carried significant weight. His status as a Super Bowl champion and a fan favorite gave him the license to execute a stunt that a lesser-known player might not have been able to pull off successfully. His career, which included a dominant run as an outside linebacker and a key role in the Super Bowl XLV victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, cemented his legendary status in Wisconsin.

Ultimately, the "Clay Matthews Donald Trump" story of 2025 is a testament to the enduring power of sports rivalries. It was a simple, funny, and deeply regional joke that used a national political figure as a springboard for viral fame, proving that sometimes, the best headlines are the ones that make you cringe before they make you laugh.