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Legacies: Clay Matthews approaching father's career sack total

Kyle Terada / Reuters

The Matthewses must be the first family of football. Now into the third generation of pro football players, the sport is simply in the family's DNA.

First there was Clay Sr., who spent four seasons as an offensive tackle for the San Francisco 49ers. His sons, Clay Jr. and Bruce both played in the NFL into their 40s. The family's football legacy continues today with Clay Jr.'s sons Clay III and Casey, and Bruce's sons Kevin and Jake.

Football's first family is nearing a changing of the guard, as Clay Jr.'s family sack record is being threatened by his son, Clay III.

It seemed Clay III had the fast track on eclipsing his father's career total of 69.5 sacks by now, but the Green Bay Packers have shifted him into more of a hybrid-type linebacker, giving him a variety of different looks across the front-seven, rather than the edge-rusher he was in the early part of his career.

Clay III has four seasons of double-digit sacks under his belt, but he's only recorded 4.5 sacks this season, upping his career total to 65.5. He is, however, on pace to set a career-high in tackles.

Four sacks back of his father's career total, Clay III can erase that deficit in a hurry, as he has picked up 4.5 sacks in Weeks 3-5 this season.

In any event, the family record he's soon to hold likely won't be safe too long as the Matthews-family football legacy continues to be written.

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