animosity between Clayton and Salisbury. Clayton notably appeared in a This is SportsCenter commercial, in which he was featured out of character in a sleeveless Slayer t-shirt and a concealed ponytail. He was initially reluctant to participate in the ad, fearing that its humorous nature would sully his standing for "serious reporting" that he had developed over the years. However, it turned out to be popular, and gave him "a new level of celebrity that was totally unexpected". After more than two decades with ESPN, Clayton left as part of mass layoffs by the network on May 31, 2017. Radio Clayton remained a frequent contributor to KJR, which he first joined in 1990 as a radio talk show host. He hosted its Sports Saturday show on Saturday mornings. He was a regular caller to sports-talk radio stations around the country. After Seattle's KIRO changed to an all-sports format, Clayton moved his show to the new ESPN affiliate. He continued to work at KIRO after he was let go by ESPN. Starting in February 2021, Clayton contributed to 104.3 The Fan's website and radio station in Denver. Awards and honors In recognition of his long and distinguished contribution to the coverage pro football, Clayton received the Dick McCann Memorial Award from the Pro Football Writers of America in 2007. This distinction puts him in the "writer's wing" of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Clayton was also inducted into the sports hall of fame of his alma mater, Duquesne University, in 2001. His hometown of Braddock designated March 18, 2018, as "John Clayton Day" in his honor. Personal life Clayton was married to his wife, Pat, until his death. They met while working for The News Tribune, where she covered bowling. He died on March 18, 2022, at the age of 67, at a hospital in Bellevue, Washington, from an unspecified brief illness. References External links 1954 births 2022 deaths 20th-century American journalists 21st-century American journalists American sports radio personalities American sportswriters American television reporters and correspondents Dick McCann Memorial Award recipients Duquesne University alumni ESPN people Journalists from Pennsylvania People from Braddock, Pennsylvania Pittsburgh Steelers announcers