(Image 1 via X, Image 2 via YouTube: Clay Matthews)
The one from his brother Kyle’s podcast in March 2026. Then the one from the 2025 NFL Draft. 3. Matthews spent 10 seasons in the NFL, primarily with the Green Bay Packers. He finished his NFL career with 91.5 sacks, according to NFL statistics.
Because in 2026, apparently the most unbelievable thing about an NFL photograph isn’t always the athlete.
Clay Matthews’ brother, Kyle Matthews, runs “The Matthews Mentality” podcast. Some compared him to several other characters, including Thor, Weaver from Antz, Handsome Squidward from SpongeBob SquarePants, Popeye, Crimson Chin, Joe Swanson from Family Guy, WWE superstar The Great Khali , Johnny Bravo, and internet creator Logan Chitwood, who portrays a “GigaChad” meme persona, among others. Matthews has largely stayed out of the NFL spotlight since his football playing career ended, making breathtaking “before-and-after” images peculiarly easy to believe for people who haven’t seen him recently. Now, by “they,” fans mean TMZ. Once those pictures are posted without context, speculation can quickly become “fact” through constant resharing. Even fans went on to say, “I used to rely on TMZ for well-researched, accurate info until now,” and “I like TMZ because they post an event a full 5 minutes before it even happens, but I’m not sure what they are doing with this campaign of fake nonsense. A post read, “Since when do you promote fake pics?” another said, “Why you so dumb TMZ! Join conversation Share your thoughts in the comments Be respectful · TOI community guidelines TMZ posted them as promotional ads, and he joked “Gigaclay” about the exaggerated jaw and physique.
Clay Matthews apparently got a new face, a new body, and possibly a new career as a Marvel villain, Thanos, or Hellboy. There’s just one problem: the NFL legend doesn’t look like the pictures circulating in cyberspace right now! The former Green Bay Packers linebacker became the far-fetched center of a cyberspace storm after images circulated showing him with a shocking new look. The pictures were dramatic enough to trigger instant speculation about plastic surgery, cosmetic procedures, and an extreme physical transformation – one that makes a particular feature stand out. The viral images appeared to show Clay Matthews looking almost unidentifiable, with specifically altered facial features and a more muscular physique – much like Hellboy, Thanos, or Hulk. The shocking images quickly became fodder for social media speculation about whether the former linebacker had undergone extensive cosmetic work. An X account called Former Republican subsequently warned that the images were AI-generated and a paid advertisement to “get people to listen to his crap podcast. In its 100th episode, Kyle interviewed Clay about life after football, raising three kids, and working outdoors. He also recalls nearly taking a commercial real estate internship that Kyle arranged before choosing to pursue the NFL. Clay is also a guest on sports shows like Bussin’ With The Boys. As for the fake Clay picture, other reports also questioned its authenticity. But recent appearances and footage reportedly show Matthews looking considerably closer to his familiar self. His latest appearance on the Bussin’ With The Boys podcast – dated Sept. As for his actual football transformation? It was majestic enough. He became one of the most destructive defensive players of his era, earning six Pro Bowl selections and helping Green Bay win Super Bowl XLV. Apparently, that resume wasn’t dramatic enough for cyberspace. They reportedly came with a distorted image! This Clay Matthews episode highlights a bigger problem facing sports fans: seeing is no longer enough to believe. AI-generated images can produce convincing facial changes, physiques, and scenarios in seconds. And Matthews’ case is almost comically perfect. A legendary linebacker known for his flowing blond hair and intimidating gridiron presence suddenly appears online, reportedly through TMZ, looking like he discovered an experimental NFL offseason program. Fans speculate. Social media reacts. Headlines follow. Then comes the inconvenient detail: the picture itself may not be authentic. Desperate for clicks? A user asked Grok, Twitter’s AI: “Hey [Grok], why is TMZ posting these fake pics of Clay Matthews with an oversized jaw? Grok replied, “Modern AI-generated images can be virtually indistinguishable from real ones by sight alone. These of Clay Matthews are AI-generated, per community notes and multiple reports. No real work was done. So before declaring that Clay Matthews has undergone the greatest transformation since his NFL debut, perhaps check whether Clay Matthews actually transformed at all. Sometimes, it’s the photograph. And it’s undoubtedly AI-generated! Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.