The Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame announced on Monday a pair of former defensive stars have been elected to the Hall. Clay Matthews and Aaron Kampman will be inducted into the Packer Hall of Fame at the enshrinement ceremony at Lambeau Field next August 29th. Both players knew how to find opposing quarterbacks. Kampman rose from a fifth round draft choice out of Iowa in 2002 to become perhaps the most consistent defensive player in the Mike Sherman era. He played eight seasons with the Packers, piling up 54 career sacks to rank 5th all-time. Kampman also held his own on the edge in the run game becoming one of the leaders of a team that captured four NFC North titles including each of his first three years with the team. Kampman was always a steady, polite voice in the locker room with the media and his Green Bay career ended after the 2009 season when he signed as a free agent with the Jacksonville Jaguars. That was the same year Matthews arrived in Green Bay. The Packers made a draft day trade that allowed then General Manager Ted Thompson to move back into the late first round when he selected Matthews out of USC. Clay made an immediate impact on the team, racking up a rookie record 10 and a half sacks. His high motor off the edge pass rushing produced a franchise record 83 and a half sacks during his 10 year career that featured six Pro Bowl appearances and twice being named to the All-Pro team. Matthews also made a key play in Green Bay’s Super Bowl XLV victory over Pittsburgh by forcing a second half fumble with Ryan Pickett. Fans were endeared to the long locks and predator-flexing pose after sacks from one of if not the best pass rushing linebackers in team history.
Comments