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Wikipedia

Joe Greene

January 18, 2023

For other people named Joe Greene, see Joseph Greene (disambiguation).

Charles Edward Greene (born September 24, 1946), better known as "Mean" Joe Greene, is an American former professional football player who was a defensive tackle for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL) from 1969 to 1981. A recipient of two NFL Defensive Player of the Year awards, five first-team All-Pro selections, and ten Pro Bowl appearances, Greene is widely considered to be one of the greatest defensive linemen to play in the NFL. He was noted for his leadership, fierce competitiveness, and intimidating style of play for which he earned his nickname.

Joe Greene
Greene with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1975
No. 75
Position:Defensive tackle
Personal information
Born: (1946-09-24) September 24, 1946 (age 76)
Temple, Texas, U.S.
Height:6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight:275 lb (125 kg)
Career information
High school:Dunbar (Temple, Texas)
College:North Texas State (1966–1968)
NFL Draft:1969 / Round: 1 / Pick: 4
Career history
As a player:
As a coach:
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Games played:181
Games started:172
Sacks:77.5
Fumble recoveries:16
Interceptions:1
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR
Pro Football Hall of Fame
College Football Hall of Fame

Born and raised in Temple, Texas, Greene attended North Texas State University (now University of North Texas), where he earned consensus All-America honors as a senior playing for the North Texas State Mean Green football team. He was drafted by the Steelers fourth overall in the 1969 NFL Draft and made an immediate impact with the team, as he was named the NFL's Defensive Rookie of the Year. Greene is credited with providing the foundation upon which Steelers coach Chuck Noll turned the dismal franchise into a sports dynasty. He was the centerpiece of the "Steel Curtain" defense that led Pittsburgh to four Super Bowl championships in a six-year span.

Throughout his career, Greene was one of the most dominant defensive players in the NFL, able to overpower opposing offensive linemen with ease and disrupt blocking. Former teammate Andy Russell called Greene "unquestionably the NFL's best player in the seventies." He is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the College Football Hall of Fame, and his number 75 jersey is one of only three retired by the Steelers. Greene is also well known for his appearance in the "Hey Kid, Catch!" Coca-Cola commercial, which aired during Super Bowl XIV and solidified his reputation as a "tough football player who's a nice guy."[1]

Early life and college

Charles Edward Greene was born September 24, 1946, in Temple, Texas. He played high school football at Dunbar High School in Temple. Despite Greene's talents, the Dunbar Panthers had a mediocre record, and he was not heavily recruited by colleges. His options were limited further due to segregation of the Southwest Conference.[citation needed] He was eventually offered a scholarship to play college football at North Texas State University (now University of North Texas), where he played on the varsity team from 1966 to 1968. He led the team to a 23–15–1 record during his three seasons. In his 39 games at defensive tackle, North Texas State held the opposition to 2,507 yards gained on 1,276 rushes, a per-carry average of less than two yards. Greene was a three-time All-Missouri Valley Conference selection.[2]

In his junior season Greene married Agnes Craft, also a student at North Texas State and the daughter of a Dallas businessman.[citation needed] Tight on money, they were wed at Craft's sister's house in Dallas. Chuck Beatty, Greene's teammate at North Texas and later again in the NFL with the Steelers, served as best man.[3]

As a senior, Greene was a consensus pick as a defensive tackle for the 1968 All-America team, earning first-team honors from United Press International (UPI), the Newspaper Enterprise Association, and The Sporting News, among others.[4] His college coach, Rod Rust, said of Greene: "There are two factors behind Joe's success. First, he has the ability to make the big defensive play and turn the tempo of a game around. Second, he has the speed to be an excellent pursuit player." A pro scout said, "He's tough and mean and comes to hit people. He has good killer instincts. He's mobile and hostile."[5]

Nickname

While sources agree the name is a reference to North Texas' athletics teams, the Mean Green,[6][7][8] there are conflicting accounts as to how, when, and why Greene received his "Mean Greene" nickname. When he first arrived at North Texas, the university's moniker was the Eagles. In 1966, Greene's first year on the varsity team, the team adopted the "Mean Green" moniker. Two possible origins of the nickname are two separate cheers that supposedly developed independently during North Texas' 1966 game against UTEP. One cheer was by Sidney Sue Graham, wife of the North Texas sports information director. In response to a tackle by Greene, she blurted out, "That's the way, Mean Greene!"[9] Bill Mercer, former North Texas play-by-play announcer, states Graham's thought behind the nickname was the Mean Green defense.[10] Meanwhile, in the student section, North Texas basketball players Willie Davis and Ira Daniels, unsatisfied with the unenthusiastic crowd, began to sing, "Mean Green, you look so good to me". The rest of the crowd soon followed. "After that we did it every game," Davis said. "A lot of people later on started associating it with Joe because his last name was Greene, but it actually started with that simple chant that Saturday night at Fouts Field. And that's the truth."[9]

Although it stuck with him throughout his professional career due to his playing style, Greene himself was not fond of the nickname, insisting it did not reflect his true character.[7] "I just want people to remember me as being a good player and not really mean," he said. "I want to be remembered for playing 13 years and contributing to four championship teams. I would like to be remembered for maybe setting a standard for others to achieve."[11]

As for the “Joe” part of his nickname (since his given name was Charles, not Joseph), that came from one of his aunts.[12]

During a 2014 interview with NFL Films, Greene said that his aunt nicknamed him Joe due to his resemblance to boxing legend Joe Louis, who at the time of Greene's birth was in the middle of his 12-year reign as heavyweight champion.

"She thought I was hefty and bulky enough to be called Joe Louis," Greene said. "She started calling me Joe, and it kind of stuck."[12]

Professional football career

The Pittsburgh Steelers franchise was one of the most downtrodden in the NFL, having experienced many losing seasons before the hiring of Chuck Noll as head coach in 1969.[13] Noll and the Rooney family, which had owned the franchise since its formation, agreed that building the defensive line was crucial to rebuilding the team.[14] Thus, they decided on Greene with the fourth pick of the 1969 NFL Draft. The selection proved unpopular with fans and media, who were hoping for a player that would generate excitement; the relatively unknown Greene did not appear to meet their expectations.[15] Meanwhile, Greene, who was highly competitive, was disappointed he was picked by a team that had such a reputation for losing.[16] "I did not, did not want to be a Steeler," he admitted in a 2013 interview.[17] Noll saw immense potential in Greene and insisted on drafting him.[18] Ken Kortas, who had played in all 42 games as defensive tackle over the previous three seasons, was soon traded away to the Chicago Bears to accommodate him on the roster.[19] In a matter of months he established himself as one of the most dominant players in the league at his position. Despite his team finishing 1969 with a 1–13 win–loss record, the Associated Press (AP) named Greene the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year,[20][21] and he was invited to his first Pro Bowl.[22]

Former teammate Andy Russell called Greene "unquestionably the NFL's best player in the seventies," saying "No player had a greater impact or did more for his team."[23] Greene and coach Noll are widely credited with turning the Steelers franchise around.[24][25] The Steelers finished 1970 with a 5–9 record and went 6–8 in 1971. Greene was invited to the Pro Bowl in both seasons.[26] In 1972, Pittsburgh finished 11–3 and won its first division title and its first playoff game—the "Immaculate Reception" game against the Oakland Raiders. During the season, Greene tallied 11 quarterback sacks and 42 solo tackles, and he was recognized as the AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year. Miami Dolphins head coach Don Shula lauded Greene, saying, "He's just a super super star. It's hard to believe he isn't offside on every play. He makes the other team adjust to him."[27] By this time, Noll had built a formidable defense. "We have maybe 10 guys now capable of making All-Pro," said Greene in 1972. "I'm just like all the other guys, doing my best in a team effort."[27] With the drafting of defensive tackle Ernie Holmes in 1972, the Steelers assembled what became known as the "Steel Curtain" defensive line of Greene, Holmes, L. C. Greenwood, and Dwight White.[28] Greene was invited to the Pro Bowl for 1973, joining White and Greenwood on the American Football Conference (AFC) roster.[29]

Greene won his second AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award after the 1974 season, becoming the first player to receive the award multiple times.[30] That year, he developed a new tactic of lining up at a sharp angle between the guard and center to disrupt the opposition's blocking assignments.[11] His coaches were at first skeptical of the tactic and did not allow him to try it during the regular season. He first implemented it against the Buffalo Bills in the division championship game. It proved to be highly effective, as it impeded Buffalo's blocking, and running back O. J. Simpson managed only 48 yards rushing.[23] The following week, the Steelers faced the Oakland Raiders in the AFC championship game, with the defining match-up being Greene against All-Pro center Jim Otto. At one point Greene, consumed by emotions, kicked Otto in the groin. Later, on a third-down play, Greene threw Otto to the ground with one arm before leaping to sack quarterback Ken Stabler.[31] Oakland was held to 29 rushing yards in the Steelers' 24–13 victory. On January 12, 1975, the Steelers won their first of four Super Bowl championships in a six-year span by defeating the Minnesota Vikings 16–6 in Super Bowl IX. In that game, lined up against center Mick Tingelhoff, Greene recorded an interception, forced fumble, and fumble recovery in what is considered one of the greatest individual defensive Super Bowl performances.[32][33] Pittsburgh limited the Vikings to only 119 total yards of offense, 17 of which were gained on the ground.[34] After the season, Greene was honored by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette at its 39th Dapper Dan dinner as Pittsburgh's outstanding sports figure of the year.[35]

 
Greene's jersey displayed in the Heinz Field Walk of Fame

Greene missed four games in 1975 due to a pinched nerve, snapping a streak of 91 straight games started since he entered the league.[11] In December 1975, he and the other members of the Steel Curtain appeared on the cover of Time magazine.[16] After leading the Steelers to another Super Bowl win after the 1975 season over the Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowl X, Greene missed the first several games of the 1976 season with a back injury. The Steelers started off the season 1–4 and looked like they would not make the playoffs. Quarterback Terry Bradshaw was also injured and was replaced by rookie Mike Kruczek. Greene returned and the Steelers defense carried the team to nine-straight wins and the playoffs. With a defense considered one of the best in NFL history,[36][37] the 1976 Steelers held opponents to an average of less than 10 points per game (138 points over 14 games). During their nine-game winning streak, the Steelers defense recorded five shutouts, including three straight, and surrendered a total of 28 points (roughly 3 points per game).[38] The defense allowed only two touchdowns over those nine games. The Steelers were defeated by the Raiders in that year's AFC championship game.[39]

By 1977, Greene was the captain of the Steelers defense, although his reduced effectiveness over the previous two seasons due to injuries led to rumors that he was washed up.[40][41] He was never again able to attain the same success as a pass rusher after his pinched nerve in 1975.[42] Spurred by the rumors, he returned in 1978 to lead all Pittsburgh linemen in tackles, and he had four sacks and a career-high five fumble recoveries. The Steelers defense allowed a league-low 195 points during the season, en route to a 35–31 victory over the Cowboys in Super Bowl XIII.[43] In that contest, Greene had one of Pittsburgh's five sacks of Dallas quarterback Roger Staubach.[44]

Pittsburgh finished the 1979 season with a 12–4 record, and ranked second in total defense and fifth in scoring defense. Greene was named a first-team All-Pro by the Pro Football Writers Association and Pro Football Weekly and was invited to his final Pro Bowl.[26] He was also deemed the NFL's Man of the Year in recognition of his off-field contributions. In the AFC championship game against the Houston Oilers, the Steelers held NFL MVP Earl Campbell to just 15 rushing yards on 17 carries.[45] Pittsburgh then defeated the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl XIV for an unprecedented fourth Super Bowl title.[46] With the fourth title came Greene's fourth Super Bowl ring, inspiring his famous phrase, "one for the thumb", an allusion to winning a fifth championship.[47][48] His wish went unfulfilled, however, as the Steelers failed to reach the playoffs in each of his final two seasons.[49]

Greene retired as a player following the 1981 season.[50] He finished his career having played in 181 out of a possible 190 games, and recorded 77.5 sacks[41] (unofficially, as sacks were not an official statistic until 1982) and 16 fumble recoveries. His spot in the lineup was technically not replaced; the Steelers switched to a 3–4 defensive alignment for the 1982 season, which has only one nose tackle as opposed to two defensive tackles. The team has used the 3–4 as its base alignment continuously in the years since Greene's retirement, and more recently have used alignments that deploy only two true linemen.[51]

Attitude and playing style

He's tough and mean and comes to hit people. He has good killer instincts. He's mobile and hostile.[5]

Greene's nickname remained popular due to his exploits on the playing field, where he was described as ferocious and intimidating.[18][52] He instilled fear in opponents with the intensity of his play. In a 1979 game against the Houston Oilers, with only seconds remaining and Houston leading 20–17, the Oilers lined up near the Pittsburgh goal line to run their final play. With victory already assured for the Oilers, Greene pointed angrily across the line of scrimmage at Houston quarterback Dan Pastorini, warning, "If you come into the end zone, I'll beat the crap out of you! I'm gonna kill you!" Pastorini responded by taking a knee, ending the game. Afterward, Greene laughed and said, "I knew you weren't going to do it."[47]

In his early years with the Steelers, Greene was at times uncontrollable, and often let his temper get the best of him. On one occasion during a 1975 game against the rival Cleveland Browns at Cleveland Municipal Stadium, Greene repeatedly kicked Browns lineman Bob McKay in the groin while McKay was lying on the ground.[47][53] He also punched Denver Broncos guard Paul Howard and spat at quarterback Fran Tarkenton,[42] and he frequently clashed with officials.[23][47]

Greene and middle linebacker Jack Lambert became the emotional leaders of Pittsburgh's defensive squad. Greene was described as a huge presence both on and off the field.[16] Joe Gordon of the Steelers front office recalled an instance in which a teammate was loudly voicing his discontent over the long and cold practice they had just gone through as he yanked off his equipment. At a nearby locker, Greene lifted his head and silently glared at him. "Believe me, that's all Joe did, he never even said anything," said Gordon. "I don't think the other players saw Joe glare at him. I think the other player just felt it, and then he sat down and never said another word."[42] A natural leader, Greene was named the captain of the defense in 1977.[11][54] His leadership was also channeled to the offense; Lynn Swann, a wide receiver, considered Greene a mentor. "If you were giving less than 100 percent, he let you know one way or the other," said Swann.[42]

Acting career

Coca-Cola commercial

Main article: Hey Kid, Catch!

Greene appeared in a famous commercial for Coca-Cola that debuted on October 1, 1979, and was aired during Super Bowl XIV on January 20, 1980. The ad won a Clio Award in 1980 for being one of the best commercials of 1979.[55] It is widely considered to be one of the best television commercials of all time.[56][57] The commercial helped shift the public's perception of Greene as hostile and unapproachable, to a soft-hearted "nice guy".[1][54]

Other roles

While most well known for the Coca-Cola commercial, Greene has acted in other roles. One of his first acting roles was in The Black Six, a blaxploitation film starring other NFL players including fellow Hall of Famers Lem Barney, Willie Lanier, and Carl Eller.[58] Greene also played himself in the movie ...All The Marbles, a TV movie on teammate Rocky Bleier, titled Fighting Back: The Rocky Bleier Story, and in Smokey and the Bandit II.

Coaching career and later life

After retiring from the NFL, Greene spent one year, 1982, as a color analyst for NFL on CBS before becoming an assistant coach under Steelers' head coach Chuck Noll in 1987. He spent the next 16 years as an assistant coach with the Pittsburgh Steelers (1987–1991), Miami Dolphins (1991–1995), and Arizona Cardinals (1996–2003).[59] In 2004, he retired from coaching and was named the special assistant for player personnel for the Steelers. In this position, he earned his fifth Super Bowl ring after the Steelers won Super Bowl XL. When asked how it felt to finally win "one for the thumb", he replied, "That's all utter nonsense. It's one for the right hand. It's one for this group, for this team."[49] He earned a sixth ring from Super Bowl XLIII. Greene is one of four people outside the Rooney family to have Super Bowl rings from the first six championship seasons. He retired from his position in the Steelers front office in 2013.[60]

In 2014, Greene was the subject of an episode of the NFL Network documentary series A Football Life, which chronicled his life and career.[61] As of 2016, he resides in Flower Mound, Texas. His wife of 47 years, Agnes, with whom he had three children, died in 2015.[62] He has since remarried to Charlotte Greene. Greene is known as "Papa Joe" to his seven grandchildren.[61][63] In 2017, Greene released an autobiography entitled Mean Joe Greene: Built by Football.[64]

In 2018 Greene set up the Agnes Lucille Craft Greene Memorial Scholarship in honor of his late wife. The scholarships are presented annually to students from Texas, whose parents have battled cancer.[65]

Legacy

I just want people to remember me as being
a good player and not really mean. I want to be
remembered for playing 13 years and contributing to
four championship teams. I would like to be remembered for maybe setting a standard for others to achieve.

Greene is recognized as one of the most dominant players to ever play in the NFL.[66] He is widely considered one of the greatest defensive linemen in league history.[67] His durability allowed him to play in 181 of a possible 190 games, including a streak of 91 straight to begin his career.[11] The Steel Curtain defense is consistently ranked among the top defensive groups of all time. As of the death of L. C. Greenwood in September 2013, Greene is the last surviving member of the Steel Curtain.[17]

Post-career honors

  • In 1984, Greene was enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame.[68] He is the only former UNT player so honored.
  • His number 75 jersey is retired by the North Texas football team, and he was inducted into the UNT Hall of Fame in 1981.[2]
  • He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1987, a class which also included Larry Csonka, Len Dawson, Jim Langer, Don Maynard, Gene Upshaw, and John Henry Johnson.[69]
  • The Hall of Fame Selection Committee named Greene to the NFL 1970s All-Decade Team, honoring the best players of the decade. In 1994, he was selected by a 15-person panel of NFL and Pro Football Hall of Fame officials, former players, and media representatives to the NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team as one of the greatest players of the NFL's first 75 years.[70]
  • In 1999, Greene was deemed the 14th greatest player of all time by The Sporting News.[71] He was ranked 13th on The Top 100: NFL's Greatest Players by the NFL Network in 2010.[72]
  • Greene is regarded among the greatest players in Steelers franchise history.[73] His number 75 jersey was officially retired at halftime during the Steelers' game against the rival Baltimore Ravens on November 2, 2014. Greene also briefly wore number 72 during his rookie season before switching to his more familiar 75 mid-season. He is only the second Steeler to have his jersey formally retired, the first being Ernie Stautner.[63] However, the Steelers had not reissued No. 75 since Greene's retirement, and it had been understood long before 2014 that no Steeler would ever wear it again.[59]
  • The University of North Texas, Greene's alma mater, unveiled a statue of him outside of Apogee Stadium in 2018. Greene is regarded as the most famous alum of UNT.[74]
  • In 2015, the Mean Joe Greene Community Football Field was dedicated in Greene's honor in his hometown of Temple, Texas.[75]
  • In 2019, Greene was named to the NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team as one of the greatest players of the NFL's first 100 years.[76]

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  67. ^ Augustyn, Adam. "Joe Greene". Encyclopædia Britannica. from the original on November 16, 2016. Retrieved November 15, 2016.
  68. ^ "Eleven join Hall of Fame". Ellensburg Daily Record. United Press International. February 13, 1984. p. 10. from the original on April 23, 2021. Retrieved November 10, 2016.
  69. ^ "1987 Pro Football Hall of Fame Ballot". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference. from the original on September 28, 2016. Retrieved November 10, 2016.
  70. ^ "The Very Best of the NFL". Detroit Free Press. August 24, 1994. p. 1D. from the original on October 2, 2016. Retrieved November 10, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
  71. ^ "Sporting News Top 100 Football Players". Democrat and Chronicle. August 15, 1999. p. 3D. from the original on November 16, 2018. Retrieved November 10, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
  72. ^ . NFL.com. Archived from the original on December 7, 2010. Retrieved December 9, 2017.
  73. ^ Brown, Scott (November 3, 2014). "Steelers retire Joe Greene's No. 75". ESPN.com. from the original on October 29, 2016. Retrieved October 29, 2016.
  74. ^ "Statue Unveiled for UNT Legend Mean Joe Greene". September 29, 2018. from the original on October 18, 2018. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
  75. ^ "Mean Joe Green Community Football Field". from the original on September 2, 2019. Retrieved September 2, 2019.
  76. ^ "Steelers legend Joe Greene is first defensive player named to NFL's 100th Anniversary All-Time Team". CBS Sports. November 29, 2019. from the original on April 10, 2020. Retrieved June 1, 2020.

Bibliography

  • Freedman, Lew; Hoak, Dick (2009). Pittsburgh Steelers: The Complete Illustrated History (illustrated ed.). MBI Publishing Company LLC. ISBN 978-0760336458.
  • Millman, Chad; Coyne, Shawn (2010). The Ones Who Hit the Hardest: The Steelers, the Cowboys, the '70s, and the Fight for America's Soul. Penguin. ISBN 978-1101459935.
  • Pomerantz, Gary M. (2014). Their Life's Work: The Brotherhood of the 1970s Pittsburgh Steelers (illustrated, reprint ed.). Simon and Schuster. ISBN 978-1451691634.
  • Wexell, Jim (2006). Pittsburgh Steelers: Men of Steel (illustrated ed.). Sports Publishing LLC. ISBN 978-1582619965.
  • Wexell, Jim; Mendelson, Abby; Aretha, David (2014). The Steelers Experience: A Year-by-Year Chronicle of the Pittsburgh Steelers (illustrated ed.). MVP Books. ISBN 978-0760345764.

External links

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Joe Greene (American football).

January 18, 2023
greene, other, people, named, joseph, greene, disambiguation, charles, edward, greene, born, september, 1946, better, known, mean, american, former, professional, football, player, defensive, tackle, pittsburgh, steelers, national, football, league, from, 1969. For other people named Joe Greene see Joseph Greene disambiguation Charles Edward Greene born September 24 1946 better known as Mean Joe Greene is an American former professional football player who was a defensive tackle for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League NFL from 1969 to 1981 A recipient of two NFL Defensive Player of the Year awards five first team All Pro selections and ten Pro Bowl appearances Greene is widely considered to be one of the greatest defensive linemen to play in the NFL He was noted for his leadership fierce competitiveness and intimidating style of play for which he earned his nickname Joe GreeneGreene with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1975No 75Position Defensive tacklePersonal informationBorn 1946 09 24 September 24 1946 age 76 Temple Texas U S Height 6 ft 4 in 1 93 m Weight 275 lb 125 kg Career informationHigh school Dunbar Temple Texas College North Texas State 1966 1968 NFL Draft 1969 Round 1 Pick 4Career historyAs a player Pittsburgh Steelers 1969 1981 As a coach Pittsburgh Steelers 1987 1991 Defensive line coach Miami Dolphins 1991 1995 Defensive line coach Arizona Cardinals 1996 2003 Assistant coachCareer highlights and awards4 Super Bowl champion IX X XIII XIV 2 NFL Defensive Player of the Year 1972 1974 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year 1969 NFL Man of the Year 1979 5 First team All Pro 1972 1974 1977 1979 3 Second team All Pro 1971 1975 1976 10 Pro Bowl 1969 1976 1978 1979 NFL 1970s All Decade Team NFL 75th Anniversary All Time Team NFL 100th Anniversary All Time Team Pittsburgh Steelers All Time Team Pittsburgh Steelers Hall of Honor Pittsburgh Steelers No 75 retired Pittsburgh Pro Football Hall of Fame Consensus All American 1968 North Texas Mean Green No 75 retiredCareer NFL statisticsGames played 181Games started 172Sacks 77 5Fumble recoveries 16Interceptions 1Player stats at NFL com PFRPro Football Hall of FameCollege Football Hall of FameBorn and raised in Temple Texas Greene attended North Texas State University now University of North Texas where he earned consensus All America honors as a senior playing for the North Texas State Mean Green football team He was drafted by the Steelers fourth overall in the 1969 NFL Draft and made an immediate impact with the team as he was named the NFL s Defensive Rookie of the Year Greene is credited with providing the foundation upon which Steelers coach Chuck Noll turned the dismal franchise into a sports dynasty He was the centerpiece of the Steel Curtain defense that led Pittsburgh to four Super Bowl championships in a six year span Throughout his career Greene was one of the most dominant defensive players in the NFL able to overpower opposing offensive linemen with ease and disrupt blocking Former teammate Andy Russell called Greene unquestionably the NFL s best player in the seventies He is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the College Football Hall of Fame and his number 75 jersey is one of only three retired by the Steelers Greene is also well known for his appearance in the Hey Kid Catch Coca Cola commercial which aired during Super Bowl XIV and solidified his reputation as a tough football player who s a nice guy 1 Contents 1 Early life and college 2 Nickname 3 Professional football career 4 Attitude and playing style 5 Acting career 5 1 Coca Cola commercial 5 2 Other roles 6 Coaching career and later life 7 Legacy 7 1 Post career honors 8 References 8 1 Bibliography 9 External linksEarly life and college EditCharles Edward Greene was born September 24 1946 in Temple Texas He played high school football at Dunbar High School in Temple Despite Greene s talents the Dunbar Panthers had a mediocre record and he was not heavily recruited by colleges His options were limited further due to segregation of the Southwest Conference citation needed He was eventually offered a scholarship to play college football at North Texas State University now University of North Texas where he played on the varsity team from 1966 to 1968 He led the team to a 23 15 1 record during his three seasons In his 39 games at defensive tackle North Texas State held the opposition to 2 507 yards gained on 1 276 rushes a per carry average of less than two yards Greene was a three time All Missouri Valley Conference selection 2 In his junior season Greene married Agnes Craft also a student at North Texas State and the daughter of a Dallas businessman citation needed Tight on money they were wed at Craft s sister s house in Dallas Chuck Beatty Greene s teammate at North Texas and later again in the NFL with the Steelers served as best man 3 As a senior Greene was a consensus pick as a defensive tackle for the 1968 All America team earning first team honors from United Press International UPI the Newspaper Enterprise Association and The Sporting News among others 4 His college coach Rod Rust said of Greene There are two factors behind Joe s success First he has the ability to make the big defensive play and turn the tempo of a game around Second he has the speed to be an excellent pursuit player A pro scout said He s tough and mean and comes to hit people He has good killer instincts He s mobile and hostile 5 Nickname EditWhile sources agree the name is a reference to North Texas athletics teams the Mean Green 6 7 8 there are conflicting accounts as to how when and why Greene received his Mean Greene nickname When he first arrived at North Texas the university s moniker was the Eagles In 1966 Greene s first year on the varsity team the team adopted the Mean Green moniker Two possible origins of the nickname are two separate cheers that supposedly developed independently during North Texas 1966 game against UTEP One cheer was by Sidney Sue Graham wife of the North Texas sports information director In response to a tackle by Greene she blurted out That s the way Mean Greene 9 Bill Mercer former North Texas play by play announcer states Graham s thought behind the nickname was the Mean Green defense 10 Meanwhile in the student section North Texas basketball players Willie Davis and Ira Daniels unsatisfied with the unenthusiastic crowd began to sing Mean Green you look so good to me The rest of the crowd soon followed After that we did it every game Davis said A lot of people later on started associating it with Joe because his last name was Greene but it actually started with that simple chant that Saturday night at Fouts Field And that s the truth 9 Although it stuck with him throughout his professional career due to his playing style Greene himself was not fond of the nickname insisting it did not reflect his true character 7 I just want people to remember me as being a good player and not really mean he said I want to be remembered for playing 13 years and contributing to four championship teams I would like to be remembered for maybe setting a standard for others to achieve 11 As for the Joe part of his nickname since his given name was Charles not Joseph that came from one of his aunts 12 During a 2014 interview with NFL Films Greene said that his aunt nicknamed him Joe due to his resemblance to boxing legend Joe Louis who at the time of Greene s birth was in the middle of his 12 year reign as heavyweight champion She thought I was hefty and bulky enough to be called Joe Louis Greene said She started calling me Joe and it kind of stuck 12 Professional football career EditThe Pittsburgh Steelers franchise was one of the most downtrodden in the NFL having experienced many losing seasons before the hiring of Chuck Noll as head coach in 1969 13 Noll and the Rooney family which had owned the franchise since its formation agreed that building the defensive line was crucial to rebuilding the team 14 Thus they decided on Greene with the fourth pick of the 1969 NFL Draft The selection proved unpopular with fans and media who were hoping for a player that would generate excitement the relatively unknown Greene did not appear to meet their expectations 15 Meanwhile Greene who was highly competitive was disappointed he was picked by a team that had such a reputation for losing 16 I did not did not want to be a Steeler he admitted in a 2013 interview 17 Noll saw immense potential in Greene and insisted on drafting him 18 Ken Kortas who had played in all 42 games as defensive tackle over the previous three seasons was soon traded away to the Chicago Bears to accommodate him on the roster 19 In a matter of months he established himself as one of the most dominant players in the league at his position Despite his team finishing 1969 with a 1 13 win loss record the Associated Press AP named Greene the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year 20 21 and he was invited to his first Pro Bowl 22 Former teammate Andy Russell called Greene unquestionably the NFL s best player in the seventies saying No player had a greater impact or did more for his team 23 Greene and coach Noll are widely credited with turning the Steelers franchise around 24 25 The Steelers finished 1970 with a 5 9 record and went 6 8 in 1971 Greene was invited to the Pro Bowl in both seasons 26 In 1972 Pittsburgh finished 11 3 and won its first division title and its first playoff game the Immaculate Reception game against the Oakland Raiders During the season Greene tallied 11 quarterback sacks and 42 solo tackles and he was recognized as the AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year Miami Dolphins head coach Don Shula lauded Greene saying He s just a super super star It s hard to believe he isn t offside on every play He makes the other team adjust to him 27 By this time Noll had built a formidable defense We have maybe 10 guys now capable of making All Pro said Greene in 1972 I m just like all the other guys doing my best in a team effort 27 With the drafting of defensive tackle Ernie Holmes in 1972 the Steelers assembled what became known as the Steel Curtain defensive line of Greene Holmes L C Greenwood and Dwight White 28 Greene was invited to the Pro Bowl for 1973 joining White and Greenwood on the American Football Conference AFC roster 29 Greene won his second AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award after the 1974 season becoming the first player to receive the award multiple times 30 That year he developed a new tactic of lining up at a sharp angle between the guard and center to disrupt the opposition s blocking assignments 11 His coaches were at first skeptical of the tactic and did not allow him to try it during the regular season He first implemented it against the Buffalo Bills in the division championship game It proved to be highly effective as it impeded Buffalo s blocking and running back O J Simpson managed only 48 yards rushing 23 The following week the Steelers faced the Oakland Raiders in the AFC championship game with the defining match up being Greene against All Pro center Jim Otto At one point Greene consumed by emotions kicked Otto in the groin Later on a third down play Greene threw Otto to the ground with one arm before leaping to sack quarterback Ken Stabler 31 Oakland was held to 29 rushing yards in the Steelers 24 13 victory On January 12 1975 the Steelers won their first of four Super Bowl championships in a six year span by defeating the Minnesota Vikings 16 6 in Super Bowl IX In that game lined up against center Mick Tingelhoff Greene recorded an interception forced fumble and fumble recovery in what is considered one of the greatest individual defensive Super Bowl performances 32 33 Pittsburgh limited the Vikings to only 119 total yards of offense 17 of which were gained on the ground 34 After the season Greene was honored by the Pittsburgh Post Gazette at its 39th Dapper Dan dinner as Pittsburgh s outstanding sports figure of the year 35 Greene s jersey displayed in the Heinz Field Walk of Fame Greene missed four games in 1975 due to a pinched nerve snapping a streak of 91 straight games started since he entered the league 11 In December 1975 he and the other members of the Steel Curtain appeared on the cover of Time magazine 16 After leading the Steelers to another Super Bowl win after the 1975 season over the Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowl X Greene missed the first several games of the 1976 season with a back injury The Steelers started off the season 1 4 and looked like they would not make the playoffs Quarterback Terry Bradshaw was also injured and was replaced by rookie Mike Kruczek Greene returned and the Steelers defense carried the team to nine straight wins and the playoffs With a defense considered one of the best in NFL history 36 37 the 1976 Steelers held opponents to an average of less than 10 points per game 138 points over 14 games During their nine game winning streak the Steelers defense recorded five shutouts including three straight and surrendered a total of 28 points roughly 3 points per game 38 The defense allowed only two touchdowns over those nine games The Steelers were defeated by the Raiders in that year s AFC championship game 39 By 1977 Greene was the captain of the Steelers defense although his reduced effectiveness over the previous two seasons due to injuries led to rumors that he was washed up 40 41 He was never again able to attain the same success as a pass rusher after his pinched nerve in 1975 42 Spurred by the rumors he returned in 1978 to lead all Pittsburgh linemen in tackles and he had four sacks and a career high five fumble recoveries The Steelers defense allowed a league low 195 points during the season en route to a 35 31 victory over the Cowboys in Super Bowl XIII 43 In that contest Greene had one of Pittsburgh s five sacks of Dallas quarterback Roger Staubach 44 Pittsburgh finished the 1979 season with a 12 4 record and ranked second in total defense and fifth in scoring defense Greene was named a first team All Pro by the Pro Football Writers Association and Pro Football Weekly and was invited to his final Pro Bowl 26 He was also deemed the NFL s Man of the Year in recognition of his off field contributions In the AFC championship game against the Houston Oilers the Steelers held NFL MVP Earl Campbell to just 15 rushing yards on 17 carries 45 Pittsburgh then defeated the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl XIV for an unprecedented fourth Super Bowl title 46 With the fourth title came Greene s fourth Super Bowl ring inspiring his famous phrase one for the thumb an allusion to winning a fifth championship 47 48 His wish went unfulfilled however as the Steelers failed to reach the playoffs in each of his final two seasons 49 Greene retired as a player following the 1981 season 50 He finished his career having played in 181 out of a possible 190 games and recorded 77 5 sacks 41 unofficially as sacks were not an official statistic until 1982 and 16 fumble recoveries His spot in the lineup was technically not replaced the Steelers switched to a 3 4 defensive alignment for the 1982 season which has only one nose tackle as opposed to two defensive tackles The team has used the 3 4 as its base alignment continuously in the years since Greene s retirement and more recently have used alignments that deploy only two true linemen 51 Attitude and playing style EditHe s tough and mean and comes to hit people He has good killer instincts He s mobile and hostile 5 Greene s nickname remained popular due to his exploits on the playing field where he was described as ferocious and intimidating 18 52 He instilled fear in opponents with the intensity of his play In a 1979 game against the Houston Oilers with only seconds remaining and Houston leading 20 17 the Oilers lined up near the Pittsburgh goal line to run their final play With victory already assured for the Oilers Greene pointed angrily across the line of scrimmage at Houston quarterback Dan Pastorini warning If you come into the end zone I ll beat the crap out of you I m gonna kill you Pastorini responded by taking a knee ending the game Afterward Greene laughed and said I knew you weren t going to do it 47 In his early years with the Steelers Greene was at times uncontrollable and often let his temper get the best of him On one occasion during a 1975 game against the rival Cleveland Browns at Cleveland Municipal Stadium Greene repeatedly kicked Browns lineman Bob McKay in the groin while McKay was lying on the ground 47 53 He also punched Denver Broncos guard Paul Howard and spat at quarterback Fran Tarkenton 42 and he frequently clashed with officials 23 47 Greene and middle linebacker Jack Lambert became the emotional leaders of Pittsburgh s defensive squad Greene was described as a huge presence both on and off the field 16 Joe Gordon of the Steelers front office recalled an instance in which a teammate was loudly voicing his discontent over the long and cold practice they had just gone through as he yanked off his equipment At a nearby locker Greene lifted his head and silently glared at him Believe me that s all Joe did he never even said anything said Gordon I don t think the other players saw Joe glare at him I think the other player just felt it and then he sat down and never said another word 42 A natural leader Greene was named the captain of the defense in 1977 11 54 His leadership was also channeled to the offense Lynn Swann a wide receiver considered Greene a mentor If you were giving less than 100 percent he let you know one way or the other said Swann 42 Acting career EditCoca Cola commercial Edit Main article Hey Kid Catch Greene appeared in a famous commercial for Coca Cola that debuted on October 1 1979 and was aired during Super Bowl XIV on January 20 1980 The ad won a Clio Award in 1980 for being one of the best commercials of 1979 55 It is widely considered to be one of the best television commercials of all time 56 57 The commercial helped shift the public s perception of Greene as hostile and unapproachable to a soft hearted nice guy 1 54 Other roles Edit While most well known for the Coca Cola commercial Greene has acted in other roles One of his first acting roles was in The Black Six a blaxploitation film starring other NFL players including fellow Hall of Famers Lem Barney Willie Lanier and Carl Eller 58 Greene also played himself in the movie All The Marbles a TV movie on teammate Rocky Bleier titled Fighting Back The Rocky Bleier Story and in Smokey and the Bandit II Coaching career and later life EditAfter retiring from the NFL Greene spent one year 1982 as a color analyst for NFL on CBS before becoming an assistant coach under Steelers head coach Chuck Noll in 1987 He spent the next 16 years as an assistant coach with the Pittsburgh Steelers 1987 1991 Miami Dolphins 1991 1995 and Arizona Cardinals 1996 2003 59 In 2004 he retired from coaching and was named the special assistant for player personnel for the Steelers In this position he earned his fifth Super Bowl ring after the Steelers won Super Bowl XL When asked how it felt to finally win one for the thumb he replied That s all utter nonsense It s one for the right hand It s one for this group for this team 49 He earned a sixth ring from Super Bowl XLIII Greene is one of four people outside the Rooney family to have Super Bowl rings from the first six championship seasons He retired from his position in the Steelers front office in 2013 60 In 2014 Greene was the subject of an episode of the NFL Network documentary series A Football Life which chronicled his life and career 61 As of 2016 he resides in Flower Mound Texas His wife of 47 years Agnes with whom he had three children died in 2015 62 He has since remarried to Charlotte Greene Greene is known as Papa Joe to his seven grandchildren 61 63 In 2017 Greene released an autobiography entitled Mean Joe Greene Built by Football 64 In 2018 Greene set up the Agnes Lucille Craft Greene Memorial Scholarship in honor of his late wife The scholarships are presented annually to students from Texas whose parents have battled cancer 65 Legacy EditI just want people to remember me as being a good player and not really mean I want to be remembered for playing 13 years and contributing to four championship teams I would like to be remembered for maybe setting a standard for others to achieve Greene is recognized as one of the most dominant players to ever play in the NFL 66 He is widely considered one of the greatest defensive linemen in league history 67 His durability allowed him to play in 181 of a possible 190 games including a streak of 91 straight to begin his career 11 The Steel Curtain defense is consistently ranked among the top defensive groups of all time As of the death of L C Greenwood in September 2013 Greene is the last surviving member of the Steel Curtain 17 Post career honors Edit In 1984 Greene was enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame 68 He is the only former UNT player so honored His number 75 jersey is retired by the North Texas football team and he was inducted into the UNT Hall of Fame in 1981 2 He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1987 a class which also included Larry Csonka Len Dawson Jim Langer Don Maynard Gene Upshaw and John Henry Johnson 69 The Hall of Fame Selection Committee named Greene to the NFL 1970s All Decade Team honoring the best players of the decade In 1994 he was selected by a 15 person panel of NFL and Pro Football Hall of Fame officials former players and media representatives to the NFL 75th Anniversary All Time Team as one of the greatest players of the NFL s first 75 years 70 In 1999 Greene was deemed the 14th greatest player of all time by The Sporting News 71 He was ranked 13th on The Top 100 NFL s Greatest Players by the NFL Network in 2010 72 Greene is regarded among the greatest players in Steelers franchise history 73 His number 75 jersey was officially retired at halftime during the Steelers game against the rival Baltimore Ravens on November 2 2014 Greene also briefly wore number 72 during his rookie season before switching to his more familiar 75 mid season He is only the second Steeler to have his jersey formally retired the first being Ernie Stautner 63 However the Steelers had not reissued No 75 since Greene s retirement and it had been understood long before 2014 that no Steeler would ever wear it again 59 The University of North Texas Greene s alma mater unveiled a statue of him outside of Apogee Stadium in 2018 Greene is regarded as the most famous alum of UNT 74 In 2015 the Mean Joe Greene Community Football Field was dedicated in Greene s honor in his hometown of Temple Texas 75 In 2019 Greene was named to the NFL 100th Anniversary All Time Team as one of the greatest players of the NFL s first 100 years 76 References Edit a b Emery Mark January 28 2016 NFL legend Mean Joe Greene reunited with co star from classic 1979 Coke commercial New York Daily News Archived from the original on November 12 2016 Retrieved November 11 2016 a b Legends of the Mean Green Joe Greene No 75 University of North Texas Libraries Archived from the original on November 11 2016 Retrieved November 11 2016 Pomerantz 2014 pp 68 69 Joe Greene Is Named All American Denton Record Chronicle November 26 1968 p 8 Archived from the original on August 27 2017 Retrieved May 28 2017 via Newspapers com a b Joe Greene College Football Hall of Fame bio National Football Foundation Retrieved December 30 2016 Myerberg Paul August 15 2015 Which nickname came first at North Texas Mean Joe Greene or Mean Green USA Today Archived from the original on October 28 2016 Retrieved October 27 2016 But we can put one misguided theory to rest right here The North Texas Mean Green are not in fact named in honor of Mean Joe Greene a b Mean Joe Doesn t Like His Nickname Sarasota Herald Tribune Associated Press January 8 1975 p 3 C Archived from the original on April 23 2021 Retrieved October 27 2016 Pomerantz 2014 p 66 a b Coleman Rufus How Our Green Got Mean The North Texan Archived from the original on October 28 2016 Retrieved October 27 2016 Ehsan Azad September 5 2013 Looking back at a century of Mean Green North Texas Daily Archived from the original on October 28 2016 Retrieved October 27 2016 a b c d e Joe Greene Bio Pro Football Hall of Fame Archived from the original on October 22 2016 Retrieved October 21 2016 a b Joe Greene turns 75 Six amazing facts about the Steelers greatest player of all time CBSSports com Retrieved November 9 2021 Freedman amp Hoak 2009 p 72 Millman amp Coyne 2010 p 45 Smith Don 1993 Chuck Noll PDF The Coffin Corner 15 2 Archived PDF from the original on September 7 2015 Retrieved October 19 2016 a b c Freedman amp Hoak 2009 p 83 a b Pompeani Bob November 25 2013 Joe Greene Opens Up About Time With Steelers Teammates Passing CBS Pittsburgh Archived from the original on May 7 2016 Retrieved October 18 2016 a b Wexell Mendelson amp Aretha 2014 p 82 Rutter Joe June 17 2020 Burgh s Best to Wear It No 75 Joe Greene nearly wore another number to fame with Steelers Pittsburgh Tribune Review Retrieved October 20 2022 Greene Top Defensive Rookie The Odessa American Associated Press December 20 1969 p 15 Archived from the original on April 25 2017 Retrieved April 25 2017 via Newspapers com Harrison Elliot April 9 2015 Top rookie seasons of the Super Bowl era Defensive linemen NFL com Archived from the original on October 19 2016 Retrieved October 19 2016 Sports Briefs The Tuscaloosa News December 23 1969 p 6 Archived from the original on April 23 2021 Retrieved October 19 2016 a b c Russell Andy Bleier Rocky 2012 Joe Greene Andy Russell A Steeler Odyssey Skyhorse Publishing Inc ISBN 978 1613211595 Archived from the original on April 23 2021 Retrieved October 18 2016 Pomerantz 2014 p 58 Brown Scott June 14 2014 Hall of Famer Chuck Noll dies at 82 ESPN Archived from the original on October 20 2016 Retrieved October 19 2016 a b Joe Greene Stats Pro Football Reference com Sports Reference Archived from the original on March 21 2021 Retrieved October 19 2016 a b Mihoces Gary January 5 1973 Joe Greene Defensive Player of the Year The Evening News Associated Press p 6B Archived from the original on April 23 2021 Retrieved October 19 2016 Battista Judy January 31 2009 Steelers Defense Recalls Steel Curtain Memories The New York Times Archived from the original on October 29 2017 Retrieved May 28 2017 NFL Ready For Final Joke Game The Daily Courier United Press International January 18 1974 p 7 Archived from the original on November 13 2018 Retrieved May 28 2017 via Newspapers com Defensive Honor Goes To Mean Joe Greene Sarasota Herald Tribune Associated Press January 8 1975 p 1C Archived from the original on April 23 2021 Retrieved October 21 2016 Pomerantz Gary M November 1 2013 Mean Joe vs Double O Sports Illustrated Archived from the original on November 14 2016 Retrieved November 13 2016 Ruiz Steven February 2 2016 The best Super Bowl performances at every position USA Today Archived from the original on October 15 2016 Retrieved October 21 2016 Silverman Steve 2014 Who s Better Who s Best in Football Setting the Record Straight on the Top 65 NFL Players of the Past 65 Years Skyhorse Publishing p 71 ISBN 978 1613217535 Archived from the original on April 23 2021 Retrieved October 21 2016 Super Bowl IX Game Recap NFL com NFL Enterprises LLC Archived from the original on October 29 2018 Retrieved October 21 2016 Mean Joe Star of Dapper Dan Weekend Pittsburgh Post Gazette February 8 1975 p 10 Archived from the original on April 23 2021 Retrieved November 8 2016 Ruiz Steven February 8 2016 Stats show the 2015 Broncos defense is top 10 all time but just barely USA Today Archived from the original on November 3 2016 Retrieved November 1 2016 Tallent Aaron February 15 2016 10 Greatest Defenses in NFL History Athlon Sports Archived from the original on November 16 2016 Retrieved November 1 2016 Pomerantz 2014 p 7 Steelers Dan Rooney through the years Pittsburgh Tribune Review April 13 2017 Archived from the original on May 22 2017 Retrieved May 28 2017 Marshall Joe January 15 1979 Pouncing on a Championship Sports Illustrated 50 2 Archived from the original on April 8 2016 Retrieved October 29 2016 a b Wexell Mendelson amp Aretha 2014 p 83 a b c d Anderson Dave February 16 1982 More Than Just Mean The New York Times Archived from the original on November 4 2016 Retrieved November 3 2016 Fox Larry January 22 1979 Super Bowl XIII Steelers first 3 time winner in Super thriller 35 31 New York Daily News p 3 Archived from the original on October 29 2016 Retrieved October 28 2016 Super Bowl XIII Pittsburgh Steelers vs Dallas Cowboys January 21st 1979 Pro Football Reference com Sports Reference Archived from the original on November 2 2016 Retrieved October 28 2016 Zimmerman Paul January 14 1980 Hitting a Wall of Steel Sports Illustrated 52 2 Archived from the original on November 8 2016 Retrieved November 7 2016 Attner Paul January 21 1980 Super Bowl XIV Steelers Rally for Fourth Title The Washington Post Archived from the original on November 8 2016 Retrieved November 7 2016 a b c d Pomerantz 2014 p 239 Bouchette Ed June 5 2006 The one for the thumb Steelers collect their Super Bowl rings Pittsburgh Post Gazette Archived from the original on April 15 2016 Retrieved November 8 2016 a b Wexell 2006 p 79 Joe Greene Retires The New York Times February 11 1982 Archived from the original on June 12 2018 Retrieved June 11 2018 Bouchette Ed October 6 2016 On the Steelers Signature 3 4 defense is a thing of the past Pittsburgh Post Gazette Archived from the original on October 12 2016 Retrieved December 30 2016 75 DT Joe Greene Steelers IX X XIII XIV Sun Sentinel Associated Press Archived from the original on November 4 2016 Retrieved November 3 2016 Schudel Jeff September 14 2008 Rivalry makes turn to primetime The Morning Journal Retrieved November 3 2016 a b Steelers Joe Greene retires after 13 years The Afro American United Press International February 20 1982 p 9 Archived from the original on April 23 2021 Retrieved November 2 2016 Shontell Alyson January 18 2011 The 10 Best Award Winning TV Ads Everyone Must See Archived April 4 2011 at the Wayback Machine Business Insider Fowler Scott February 23 1992 Take it from Mean Joe Famous ad wasn t easy Philadelphia Inquirer Mooney Philip Ryan Ted Nash Helen November 29 2000 Highlights in the History of Coca Cola Television Advertising Library of Congress Archived from the original on March 8 2010 Retrieved November 10 2016 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint bot original URL status unknown link Butters Gerald R 2016 From Sweetback to Super Fly Race and Film Audiences in Chicago s Loop University of Missouri Press p 104 ISBN 978 0826273291 Archived from the original on April 23 2021 Retrieved August 25 2018 a b Pittsburgh Steelers to retire Joe Greene s No 75 jersey Sports Illustrated July 30 2014 Archived from the original on November 11 2016 Retrieved November 11 2016 Bouchette Ed May 7 2013 Steelers legend Joe Greene retires from front office job Pittsburgh Post Gazette Archived from the original on May 7 2013 Retrieved May 6 2013 a b Waits Tim September 28 2014 Film returns Mean Joe Greene to spotlight Temple Daily Telegram Archived from the original on January 26 2020 Retrieved December 30 2016 Starkey Joe November 11 2016 Joe Starkey Joe Greene reflects on life loss and the Cowboys Pittsburgh Post Gazette Archived from the original on December 31 2016 Retrieved December 30 2016 a b Fittipaldo Ray November 2 2014 Completely overwhelming Steelers raise curtain on Joe Greene s No 75 Pittsburgh Post Gazette Archived from the original on August 5 2016 Retrieved October 29 2016 Kapp Joe March 22 2017 Steelers Hall Of Famer Joe Greene Would Have Said Goodbye To Antonio Brown CBS Pittsburgh Archived from the original on November 13 2018 Retrieved July 25 2017 Weller Patrick May 24 2018 The Prime Ministers Craft Oxford Scholarship Online Vol 1 doi 10 1093 oso 9780199646203 001 0001 ISBN 9780199646203 Best run stuffer Finding the best defensive tackle in the NFL Archived January 7 2012 at the Wayback Machine USA Today July 5 2008 Retrieved November 10 2016 Augustyn Adam Joe Greene Encyclopaedia Britannica Archived from the original on November 16 2016 Retrieved November 15 2016 Eleven join Hall of Fame Ellensburg Daily Record United Press International February 13 1984 p 10 Archived from the original on April 23 2021 Retrieved November 10 2016 1987 Pro Football Hall of Fame Ballot Pro Football Reference com Sports Reference Archived from the original on September 28 2016 Retrieved November 10 2016 The Very Best of the NFL Detroit Free Press August 24 1994 p 1D Archived from the original on October 2 2016 Retrieved November 10 2016 via Newspapers com Sporting News Top 100 Football Players Democrat and Chronicle August 15 1999 p 3D Archived from the original on November 16 2018 Retrieved November 10 2016 via Newspapers com The Top 100 NFL s Greatest Players NFL com Archived from the original on December 7 2010 Retrieved December 9 2017 Brown Scott November 3 2014 Steelers retire Joe Greene s No 75 ESPN com Archived from the original on October 29 2016 Retrieved October 29 2016 Statue Unveiled for UNT Legend Mean Joe Greene September 29 2018 Archived from the original on October 18 2018 Retrieved October 17 2018 Mean Joe Green Community Football Field Archived from the original on September 2 2019 Retrieved September 2 2019 Steelers legend Joe Greene is first defensive player named to NFL s 100th Anniversary All Time Team CBS Sports November 29 2019 Archived from the original on April 10 2020 Retrieved June 1 2020 Bibliography Edit Freedman Lew Hoak Dick 2009 Pittsburgh Steelers The Complete Illustrated History illustrated ed MBI Publishing Company LLC ISBN 978 0760336458 Millman Chad Coyne Shawn 2010 The Ones Who Hit the Hardest The Steelers the Cowboys the 70s and the Fight for America s Soul Penguin ISBN 978 1101459935 Pomerantz Gary M 2014 Their Life s Work The Brotherhood of the 1970s Pittsburgh Steelers illustrated reprint ed Simon and Schuster ISBN 978 1451691634 Wexell Jim 2006 Pittsburgh Steelers Men of Steel illustrated ed Sports Publishing LLC ISBN 978 1582619965 Wexell Jim Mendelson Abby Aretha David 2014 The Steelers Experience A Year by Year Chronicle of the Pittsburgh Steelers illustrated ed MVP Books ISBN 978 0760345764 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Joe Greene American football Career statistics and player information from Pro Football Reference Official website Joe Greene at the Pro Football Hall of Fame Joe Greene at the College Football Hall of Fame Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Joe Greene amp oldid 1133467346, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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