GREEN BAY, Wis. — Former Green Bay Packers star Clay Matthews is at the center of an unexpected social media storm after unusual photos allegedly showing the retired linebacker surfaced through TMZ.
The images quickly went viral because Matthews appeared dramatically different, with a much more muscular look and an unusually pronounced jawline. The post suggested that Matthews had been spotted while shopping for groceries after “apparently getting some work done.”
But almost immediately, questions began to surface about whether the images were genuine.
The TMZ post included an “#ad” tag, while an X community note claimed that the pictures were AI-generated and falsely portrayed Matthews as having undergone cosmetic work. No credible evidence has emerged confirming that Matthews actually had plastic surgery.
Rather than responding with a lengthy statement, Matthews appeared to embrace the joke.
The former NFL linebacker reacted to the controversy with a simple “Gigaclay” accompanied by a flexed-biceps emoji, adding another twist to an already unusual viral moment.
Matthews, 40, remains one of the most recognizable defensive players in Packers history. He spent most of his 11-year NFL career in Green Bay before finishing his playing career with the Los Angeles Rams in 2019. He was selected to six Pro Bowls and recorded 91.5 career sacks.
The timing of the viral images has also attracted attention because Matthews is preparing to return to the NFL spotlight in a different role.
Netflix has brought Matthews aboard for its NFL studio coverage, with the former linebacker expected to contribute to the network’s Week 1 coverage of the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams matchup.
For now, there is no confirmed evidence that Matthews underwent the dramatic transformation suggested by the viral images. Recent appearances have also fueled skepticism about the authenticity of the pictures.
What began as a strange social media post has quickly become one of the more bizarre NFL-related viral stories ahead of the new season.
