Mean Joe Greene

September 24, 1946 – ” Mean” Joe Greene was a former defensive tackle from North Texas State, was born.

Joe Greene was known as a pretty nice guy off the football field, but he was tabbed with the “Mean” part of his nickname by the mascot of North Texas State, being called the Mean Green.

College Career

Charles Edward Greene, better known as “Mean Joe,” was a dominant force at North Texas State University (now the University of North Texas). A two-time All-American, he earned the fearsome nickname “Mean Joe” not for his personality, but for his menacing style of play. He was a disruptive defensive tackle, commanding double-teams and wreaking havoc on opposing offenses. Joe Greene was known as a pretty nice guy off the football field, but he was tabbed with the “Mean” part of his nickname by the mascot of North Texas State, being called the Mean Green. North Texas, with Joe in the lineup, allowed less than 2 yards per carry in the 29 games from 1965 through the 1968 season.

Greene was so dominant that in his senior year, he finished seventh in the Heisman Trophy voting, a rare honor for a defensive lineman.

Road to the Pro Game

Joe was a consensus All-American in college football in 1968. The Pittsburgh Steelers used the first pick in the 1969 NFL draft to bring the 6′-4″, 275-pound d-lineman to the Steel City. The Steelers were rewarded with this selection when Greene became the NFL Rookie of the Year in 1969. In his 13-year career, he earned 10 Pro Bowl selections and was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1972 and 1974.

1972 was special, as Joe recorded 5 of his 11 season-high sacks in a crucial must-win game against the Houston Oilers, propelling the Steelers into their first playoff game in franchise history!  The Steelers a couple of years later won their first of four Super Bowls with Big number 75 anchoring the famed “Steel Curtain Defense.” 

Joe Greene was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1987 & the College Football Hall of Fame in 1984.

Accolades, Awards, and Career Stats

• Pro Football Hall of Fame (1987)
• 4x Super Bowl Champion (IX, X, XIII, XIV)
• 2x NFL Defensive Player of the Year (1972, 1974)
• 10x Pro Bowl Selection
• 5x First-Team All-Pro
• NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team
• Approximate Career Sacks: 78.5 (sacks were not an official stat until 1982)
• Career Fumble Recoveries: 16

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