Clay Matthews became the subject of unexpected plastic surgery speculation on September 4, 2026, after TMZ shared photos appearing to show the former NFL star with a dramatically different face. The images quickly went viral, with fans questioning what happened to Matthews and whether he had undergone cosmetic work.
So, did Matthews actually get plastic surgery, and are the viral photos real? Here’s what we know.
Matthews is a former NFL linebacker best known for his decade-long career with the Green Bay Packers. Born William Clay Matthews III, he was selected by the Packers with the 26th overall pick in the first round of the 2009 NFL Draft after playing college football at USC. Matthews spent 10 seasons in Green Bay before joining the Los Angeles Rams for the 2019 season, which became his final year in the NFL.
During his 11-season career, Matthews was selected to six Pro Bowls and recorded 91.5 sacks. He also helped the Packers defeat the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XLV in February 2011.
Matthews is 40 years old as of September 2026. He was born on May 14, 1986, in Northridge, California.
There is no credible evidence that Matthews recently underwent plastic surgery. The speculation began on September 4, 2026, after TMZ shared images on social media that appeared to show the former NFL player grocery shopping with a dramatically different face. The post was notably labeled “#ad,” and TMZ did not publish an accompanying article explaining the apparent transformation.
The viral images do not appear to be authentic photos of Matthews’ actual appearance. After TMZ shared them on September 4, an X Community Note identified the pictures as AI-generated, while the “#ad” label on TMZ’s original post further raised questions about their purpose.
