Clayton Weishuhn

Clayton Charles Weishuhn (October 7, 1959 – April 22, 2022) was an American professional football player who played linebacker for five seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played for the New England Patriots and Green Bay Packers from 1982 to 1987. He had earlier played college football at Angelo State University. He established the Patriots' single-season record of 229 tackles in 1983, and still held the record at the time of his death in April 2022.

Early life and college Weishuhn was born in San Angelo, Texas, on October 7, 1959. He was the third of five children of Olen Weishuhn and Merline (Michalewicz). Weishuhn grew up on a cotton farm, and attended Wall High School. and played tailback and linebacker on the school's defense-oriented team that went 13–1 during the 1977 season, with the Hawks recording six shutouts and allowing 4.5 points per game before progressing to the semifinals of the Class 1A state championship. He then studied physical education and history at Angelo State University, and played college football for the Angelo State Rams from 1978 to 1981.

During his freshman year, Weishuhn was a member of the Rams team that finished 14–0 and won the 1978 NAIA Football National Championship. At the time of his death in 2022, this was the school's only perfect season, He was also named Lone Star Conference Lineman of the Year in both 1980 and 1981. He was enshrined into the Lone Star Conference Hall of Honor in 2013. He made his NFL debut with the Patriots on September 12, 1982, at the age of 22, in a 24–13 win over the Baltimore Colts. He started 9 games during his first season, recording two sacks and one fumble recovered. in a matchup that became known as the Snowplow Game. He started all 16 games the following year, which still stood at the time of his death in a fatal traffic collision.

During the first week of the 1984 season, Weishuhn suffered a severe knee injury, which rendered him unable to play for the rest of that season, as well as the entirety of the 1985 season. He consequently missed the Patriots' first appearance at the Super Bowl in 1985, He returned for the 1986 season, yet within four games, suffered both a hamstring and groin injury, again causing him to miss the remainder of the team's games that season. Weishuhn was then traded to the Green Bay Packers, where he played in nine games for the 1987 season, before retiring from football at the age of 27. During his five-season NFL career, Weishuhn registered four sacks, one touchdown, and made four fumble recoveries in 39 games played.

Personal life

Weishuhn married Diane Mikulik on August 2, 1980. They met together in high school and remained married for over 40 years until his death in early 2022. Together, they had three children: Brandi, Shannon, and Lauren, who played for the Angelo State Rambelles basketball team.

After retiring from professional football, Weishuhn went back to his hometown of Wall and resumed cotton farming. He also served on his alma mater's Athletic Association Board of Directors.

Death On April 22, 2022, Weishuhn was involved in a single-vehicle traffic collision near Wall. He was driving a car when it lost control and crashed. Weishuhn was found unconscious inside the car wreckage near Wall. He was not wearing a seat belt. Weishuhn was pronounced dead at the scene on the arrival of paramedics near one of the streets of Wall. He was 62 years old at the time of his death in the accident. His funeral was held four days later, on April 26, at a Catholic church in his hometown.

Wall police said that Weishuhn was the only occupant of the car that lost control and crashed.