John Clayton cause of death: Former ESPN reporter passes away as fans flood Twitter with tributes

Fans of the long-time broadcaster flooded social media with tributes after his death was confirmed on Friday.

“I’m posting a notice of personal friend and hall of fame broadcaster John Clayton passing today at 3pm,” friend Jeff Muzzy said on Twitter.

No cause of death was immediately released.

Clayton joined ESPN in 1995 as a reporter. He later hosted a radio show with former NFL quarterback Sean Salisbury.

In 2017, Clayton was reportedly let go from ESPN.

At Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Clayton became a member of the sports hall of fame in 2001, where he studied.

The Professional Football Writers of America presented John with the Dick McCann Award in 2007.

A viral advertisement featuring Clayton filming an ESPN spot remotely – from what was ultimately shown to be an ordinary teen bedroom – made him known to a larger audience as well.

Clayton pulled off his business suit and showed a Slayer t-shirt and his long, untidy hair as the camera panned away.

SportsCenter arrived on the television as he sat down on his bed with a box of takeout.

After Clayton’s passing, friends and coworkers on Twitter uploaded a footage of the commercial, calling it a “Hall of Fame” ad.

“John Clayton, a first-class NFL insider and our beloved longtime ESPN colleague, died today,” senior ESPN writer Don Van Natta Jr wrote on Twitter.

“He also starred in the greatest This Is SportsCenter commercial of all time.”

The Seattle Seahawks also confirmed Clayton’s death in a statement.

“The Seahawks are heartbroken to learn of the passing of John Clayton after a battle with a brief illness at the age of 67,” the team wrote.

“Rest In Peace, The Professor.”

ESPN’s Senior NFL Insider Adam Schefter said: “John Clayton will be remembered in so many ways, from how he looked after his wife Pat, to the mark he made in reporting, to the standard he set.

“He dedicated his life to his wife and to football.”